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A BRIEF HISTORY 

of the 

LOWER 
RIO GRANDE VALLEY 



BY\y 
FRANK C. PIERCE 



1917 

GEORGE BANTA PUBLISHING COMPANY 
MENASHA. WISCONSIN 



Copyright 1917 

by 

FRANK C. PIERCE 



MAR -I 1917 

©Cf.A457278 



PRINTED AND BOUND BY 

GEORGE BANTA PUBLISHING COMPANY 

MENASHA, WISCONSIN 



PREFACE 

The present generation of Americans has known very 
little of that part of their country which lies along the Rio 
Grande and has had no realization of the ofttimes stirring 
scenes which have been enacted along their southern 
border. At different periods in the past the country has been 
stirred by the dramatic episodes and the conflicts growing 
out of the meeting of two entirely dissimilar peoples in that 
land of cactus and mesquite. But the present generation has 
known and thought little of that country until the conflict 
between these two races again blazed out and made the Rio 
Grande border once more a household topic in every village 
and every home in the United States. 

Strangely enough, there has been no connected historical 
statement of that region ever put in type or, so far as the 
writer knows, ever even written, and it has remained for 
Mr. Pierce to perform this service. Mr. Pierce has been a 
resident of Brownsville since 1859 and there is no one in all 
that long stretch bordering Mexico who has been in closer 
touch with the people of Mexico and with its customs and 
its language or has been a deeper student of its history on 
both sides of the river than Mr. Pierce. He, therefore, has 
performed a distinct service to the cause of history in thus 
putting into this little book the story, brief though it is. 

George Banta. 



A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE LOWER RIO GRANDE 
VALLEY 

The Lower Rio Grande Valley consists of the extreme 
southern and southwestern part of the State of Texas and 
contains about 5,000 square miles. The Rio Grande (Big 
River) which divides INIexico from Texas, has created the 
Valley and its boundary on the south and west. Rio Grande 
City (adjoining Ringgold Barracks), 105 miles northwest 
from Brownsville, is the apex of the delta and the Gulf of 
Mexico its base. 

A history* of the Valley would be incomplete without 
a passing sketch of that of the Republic of Mexico of which it 
and the State of Texas at one time formed a part. 

In depicting its history, if this book should elaborate 
on specific incidents and characters, the apology is that 
the descendents of many of the actors who made the his- 
tory left descendants who still dwell in the Valley, and in 
whom these lines may awaken slumbering memories. 



CHAPTER I 

EARLY HISTORY OF MEXICO 

. The authentic history of Mexico began with the year 

1325, when the Aztecs (now known as Mexicans) of 
whose prehistoric career but little is known, ended their 
wanderings by making a permanent settlement on the site 
then called Tenochtitlan but now known as the City of Mexico. 
The ruins of Mitla (150 miles southeast from Mexico City), 
Palenque, Uxmal, Chin-Chen-Itzia, and others along the 
Yucatan border in the extreme southern portion of Mexico 
are mute monuments of their unknown past. The wonder- 
ful pyramids of San Juan (near the City) and Cholula (three 
miles south of Puebla) testify to the skill and life currents of 
the Mayas, Quiches, Toltecs, and Chichimecs otherwise long 
since forgotten. 

. , ^ . On April 21, 1519, Hernando Cortez, the 
Spanish Invasion c- • ^ i ..u u- r • ^ 

Spanish explorer, with his army of inva- 

^ sion, landed at Vera Cruz, Mexico. His 

convoy consisted of eleven ships carrying 110 sailors, 553 
foot soldiers and 16 horsemen, together with 200 Cuban 
Indians; also ten large and four small cannon. They at 
once began their march through the unknown land, their 
progress inland towards Tenochtitlan being one ' of con- 
quest and spoliation. They battled with the fierce Tlax- 
calans and the cultured Cholulans and swept everything 
before them, their vanquished foes becoming their allies. 
Having learned from the Indians that Tenochtitlan 
was a city of great wealth, Cortez pressed thitherward, 
arriving outside of that place (now Mexico City) during 
November, 1519. There he and his followers were received 
by the King, Moctezuma, who came out to meet them with 
all the ceremony and pomp belonging to one of Cortez' 
fame. However, in spite of the Spaniards' protestations of 



8 A Brief History of the Lozver Rio Grande Valley 

friendship, the Mexicans too soon realized the true object of 
the quest of the Spaniards — the treasures of the land. This 
greed for gold, necessary religious intolerance, and haughty 
and cruel treatment of the natives soon brought on feuds and 
war. 

The Aztecs endeavored to drive the Spaniards from 
the land and became enraged when IMoctezuma allowed 
himself to be made a prisoner by them. Ciltahuatzin, 
Moctezuma's brother, was named as the leader and immedi- 
ately the Aztecs besieged the Spaniards. During the 
siege, the Spaniards craftily took Moctezuma to a house 
top overlooking a large park and caused him to implore 
his people to treat for peace. The people listened in 
silence and when Moctezuma ceased speaking he was struck 
on the head by an arrow shot from the crowd of listeners- 
From this wound he died a few days later. 

Upon the death of Moctezuma, Cortez began a retreat 
from Tenochtitlan, and on the night of July 1, 1520, 
suffered a disastrous defeat. However, he succeeded in 
evading capture. Later, in the spring of 1521, having been 
reinforced and his supplies having been recuperated, sup- 
ported by a thousand or more Indian allies, Cortez again 
attacked the Aztec stronghold. Cuahtemoc, a nephew of 
Moctezuma, had become the chief. On August 13, 1521, 
after having been besieged for eight months, his people 
starved and shrunken with disease, Cuahtemoc evacuated. 
He, his wife, who was a daughter of King Moctezuma 11, 
and his principal warriors were taken prisoners while try- 
ing to escape over the waters of the lake which lies ad- 
joining the City of Mexico. It is said that in their flight 
they carried with them the wonderful 'treasures of Mocte- 
zuma, of which Cortez had heard and which, it is alleged, 
he at one time saw under circumstances which forbade 
even his unscrupulous hand to touch. It alwaj^s has been 



/] Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valle\ 9 

contended that the treasures were cast in the Lake Tex- 

coco, where even to this day searches are made for them. 

***** 

The Spaniards reigned in Mexico from August. 1521, 
until the year 1810. 

The first viceroy of the newly acquired Aztec country 
was Felix Berenguer de Marquina, chief of the squadron 
and ex-governor of the Mariana islands. He deserves men- 
tion chiefly because he was possessed of ideas far ahead 
of the time, and even at that early date endeavored to* 
suppress bullfights. 

As early as 1696, the students of the University of Mex- 
ico began to oppose ecclesiastical influence in civil affairs 
in Mexico. During 1767, after many terrible "autos de fe" 
(public executions by burning) practiced by the church in 
the burning of Fernando Molina and others, by order of 
the Marquis de Croix, all the Jesuits in New Spain (Mexico) 
were imprisoned and subsequently expelled from the country. 
During the reign of Marquis de Valero, Don Juan 
de Acuna, Marques de Casafuerte, beginning in 
1722 and continuing for twelve years, the town of San 
Antonio de Bexar (now in Texas) was established. 
.|^ . The plague swept over Mexico in 1736 and many 
thousands died. 

Statistics give the population of the City of Mexico 
in 1747 as 50,000 Spanish European and Creole families, 
40,004 Mestizos, Mulattoes, and Negroes, and 8,000 native 
Indians. 

In 1776, Don Antonio Maria de Bucareli y Ursua, of the 
Order of San Juan and lieutenant-general of the army of 
Spain, established the Monte de Piedad (National Pawn- 
shop) which was founded by Pedro Romero de Terreros, 
Count of Regla, who endowed it with $300,000 capital. The 
object of this institution was to lower the usurious rates of 



lO A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

the money-lenders and to enable the poor to borrow money 
upon personal pledges, at lower rates of interest. 

There was a general famine and plague in 1784 and 
1785, the result of the losses of harvest due to many snow 
storms. 

While excavating in Mexico City, in 1790, for the founda- 
tion of the present cathedral, the wonderful "Calendar Stone" 
was unearthed, and later in 1791 the "Sacrificial Stone," both 
of which are now exhibited in the museum of the City of 
Mexico. 
• -. . On September 16, 1810, the priest, Miguel 

, , , Hidalgo y Costilla, since called "The Father 

Independence .,^.ti j j>ijj 

of Mexican Independence, headed an upris- 
ing of the natives against Spanish rule. With General 
Ignacio Allende, Juan Aldama, Abasolo, and Jimenez, at 2 
o'clock on the morning of September 16, 1810, Hidalgo cap- 
tured the prison of Dolores, near Guanajuato, liberated the 
prisoners, armed them with swords, and began the war. 

On March 21, 1811, Hidalgo and Allende were betrayed 
and captured by a Spanish officer named Elizondo at a place 
called Acatita de Bajan, and were taken to Monclova. On 
July 30, 1811, Hidalgo was executed in front of his prison 
in Chihuahua and later on the same day, Allende Aldama 
and Jimenez. Their heads were cut off and placed upon 
pikes at the four corners of the Alhondiga de Granaditas, 
a stone warehouse for grain in Guanajuato, Mexico. At 
this date, 1916, the building still stands. 

The, death of Hidalgo brought forward many leaders, 
a priest, Morelos, achieving almost as great distinction as 
Hidalgo. During Morelos' leadership a congress was organ- 
ized and on the sixteenth day of November, 1813, a declaration 
of Independence was framed. Morelos was captured and 
shot on the morning of December 22, 1815, at San Cristo- 
bal Ecatepec. He was betrayed by one of his men 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley ii 

and delivered to the Spanish officer. He was tried by the 
"Holy Office" which though suspended in June, 1813, had 
been reestablished January 21, 1814, to combat the spread 
of revolutionary ideas. He was condemned to do penance 
for being "an unconfessed heretic and abetor of heretics, 
a profaner of the Holy Sacraments, a traitor to God, the 
King, and Pope." 

Mariano Matamoros, a priest who also enlisted in the 
battle for independence was likewise betrayed and executed 
on February 3,' 1814, at Valladolid, Mexico. 
***** 

The Inquisition held sway in Mexico until May 31, 1820, 
when it was declared inoperative by the Spanish Cortes, 
its last "auto de fe" being on November 26, 1815. 

sic :)c H< * * 

_ ,. In April, 1817, Francisco Javier Mina, of 

Navarro, Spain with a small squadron and a 
handful of followers, many of whom were Americans, 
debarked at the mouth of the Sota de la Marina river, 200 
miles south of Brownsville, Texas, and marched to the town 
of that name, 40 miles west. He was met by Mier y Teran, 
a Mexican refugee, with whom he set out to Bajio de Guana- 
juato to join the Independent troops against the Spaniards. 
In May, a number of his men, principally Texas colonists, 
deserted and he was left with but three hundred followers. 
The force at Soto de la Marina was compelled to surrender 
and Padre Mier was taken prisoner. Mina was captured at 
Venadito, near Guanajuato, on October 27, 1817, and was 
executed by shooting on November 11, 1817, at San Gregorio, 
nearby. 

.-- . In 1818, Vicente Guerrero became the leader of the 

Independents. Pie was captured and shot on 
February 14, 1831. 



12 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

In 1820, Augustin Itiirbide attached himself to the ecclesi- 
astics and more politic Spaniards, Creoles, and Mexican lead- 
ers, and with these agreed on a plan for Mexican Indepen- 
dence and a separation from Spain. A Mexican representative 
monarchy was to be created, to be ruled by a king of Spanish 
blood. 

Iturbide headed the movement. On February 24, 1821, 
Santa Anna, Negrete, Cortazar, Fillisola Bravo, and others 
came to the support of the new leader and soon the whole 
country was in the hands of the Independents. 

In July, 1821, General Juan O'Donoju, the sixty-fourth 
Spanish viceroy of Mexico, landed and took the oath of office 
at Vera Cruz. Iturbide and he met at Cordoba and agreed on 
the famous treaty of Cordoba, by which Mexico was declared 
sovereign and independent; a constitutional representative 
monarchy was created, and Ferdinand VII of Spain, was 
called to be king. 

A provisional government was organized awaiting the 
arrival of the king. What are known as "Las Tres Garan- 
tias" (the three guarantees) were adopted. They were: A 
guarantee to the Mexican people of the Roman Catholic 
religion, without toleration of any other: the absolute inde- 
pendence of the country; and the equal rights of the native 
races with the residents of European descent, or Creoles. 
The flag of the nation was adopted symbolic of these three 
guarantees, "religion, independence, and union" — green, white, 
and red. 

September 27, 1821, Iturbide with an army of sixteen 
thousand entered Mexico City, where he was hailed as the 
"liberator." 

A regency was forthwith appointed which named him 
president. 

Those who claimed to have suffered at the hands of the' 
church, resented Iturbide's open committal to it and its inti- 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 13 

mate relations to the Spanish government, and became suspi- 
cious of his real motives. A reaction followed. At the first 
congress of the Mexican nation, convened on February 24, 
1822, a disagreement ensued between congress and the 
regency. Ithurbide, having as his adherents the army, the 
clergy, and a few of the Spaniards, secured a demonstration 
in his favor. After various turbulent outbursts of the people 
he was elected Emperor of Mexico on May 19, 1822. He took 
the oath of office at once. On June 21, 1822, he was annointed 
and crowned in the great cathedral at the capital, assuming 
the title of "Augustin I, Emperor." 

Iturbide's reign as Emperor was brief. He imprisoned 
some of the members of congress who had freely expressed 
themselves regarding him. 

The spectres of Hidalgo, Allende, Aldama, Morelos, 
Matamoros, Jimenez, and Abasolo, whose lives had been 
sacrificed in the battles for freedom, and Mexican Indepen- 
dence could not be kept down. Hundreds of patriots stood 
ready to continue the fight for absolute independence. In 

1822, opposition to the empire broke out in open rebellion, 
headed by General Santa Anna. Iturbide who had been for 
a while idolized by his people, became an object of scorn. On 
March 20, 1823, he tendered his resignation to Congress which 
refused to accept it on the ground that it had never volun- 
tarily elected him Emperor. A provisional government was 
formed, composed of four revolutionary chiefs, Nicolas Bravo, 
Guadalupe Victoria, General Xegrete, and Vicente Guerrero. 

The provisional government, in recognition of the valu- 
able services rendered to the country by him, granted to 
Iturbide an annual pension of $25,000 on condition that' he 
fix his residence in Italy. 

Iturbide, with his family sailed from Vera Cruz in an 
English ship, "The Rawlins," Welch commander, on May 11, 

1823. bound for Italy. He afterwards left Italy and resided 



,14 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

in London from which place he kept in touch with his 
sympathizers in Mexico. 

Later he warned the Mexican government of the scheme 
of the Holy Alliance to restore Spanish rule in Mexico, and 
believing that his services would be acceptable, sailed from 
Southampton, England, on May 4, 1824, on the Brigantine 
Spring, Welch commander. His daughters and older chil- 
dren remained in England. 

Some historians allege that upon his arrival at Soto de la 
Marina he was invited by the commander of the forces in 
Tamaulipas to land, and was then told that he had but a 
few hours to live. Written authenticated data establishes 
that Iturbide arrived at Soto de la Marina on July 14, 1824, 
accompanied by Lieutenant-Colonel Beneski, who had been 
a prominent figure in Iturbide's Empire. Beneski came 
ashore and represented to the Mexican officials that he and 
a companion were coming to colonize Mexico. 

Iturbide landed on July 15, and in spite of his disguise was 
recognized by the corporal of the guard and a merchant of 
Durango. Iturbide and Beneski were halted and the com- 
mandante general, with headquarters at Padilla 80 miles dis- 
tant was advised. When it was clear that he had been 
recognized, Iturbide told the Commandante that he had 
returned to offer his services to the country in anticipation 
of the threatened invasion by the Spanish, backed by the 
Holy Alliance. 

On the morning of July 17, 1824, Iturbide was told of the 
order for his execution. But Garza the Commandante, sus- 
pended the order and started with Iturbide to Padilla, where 
the congress of Tamaulipas was then in session. 

Congress being advised of Iturbide's arrival, ordered Jose 
Bernardo Guiterrez de Leon, governor of that state, to have 
him executed by shooting. 

Iturbide was brought into Padilla on the nineteenth. He 
requested permission to appear before congress in his own 
behalf but was denied the privilege. 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 15 

Commandante Garza appeared before congress and argued 
that according to his belief Iturbide should not be subjected 
to law of proscription of which he had no information before 
disembarking. Congress disagreed with Garza on this ques-, 
tion and gave to Commandante Garza the same instructions 
which it had given to the Governor. 

At 3 o'clock p. M., Adjutant Gordiano del Castillo informed 
Iturbide of his sentence to death, and advised him that he 
should have three hours in which to commune with his God. 

He was then marched out into the plaza, where he was 
blindfolded, and his arms were bound. After a few words 
in which he exhorted his hearers to remain loyal patriots and 
to txe firm in their religious' faith he kissed the cross. Upon 
the command, the soldiers fired and Iturbide plunged forward 
to the ground, a ragged bullet-hole in his forehead and 
another through his heart. 

Padilla is about 150 miles southwest of Brownsville on the 
road to Victoria, Mexico. 

***** 
_, .. In 1526, an exploring expedition left Tampico, 

, _, traveling northward, following the coast of the 

Gulf of Mexico until it arrived at the peninsula 
know as "Florida." 

A priest by the name of Andres Olmos, who was the 
Chaplain of the expedition, converted and brought back to 
what is now Tampico a great number of the Indians called 
Olives. They come overland. These Olive Indians mixed 
with Spaniards and soon acquired their customs and civiliza- 
tion. They occupied the country just North of Tampico. 

In 1528, Captain Nufio de Guzman was appointed Governor 
of the province but he committed so many abuses, among 
others the exiling of the Huaxtecas Indians to the Island of 
Cuba to be sold as slaves, that his name thereafter was used 
only with execrations. After Guzman's retirement the prov- 



1 6 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

iiice experienced a period of progress and opened up com- 
mercial relations with the provinces San Luis Potosi and 
Nuevo Leon. Upon instituting a vice-royalty in this colony 
of New Spain, the office of Governor was abolished and a 
Chief Justice substituted. 

During the year of 1586, while Luis de Carvajal y de la 
Cueva was Chief Justice, Captain John Hawkins, an English 
pirate, arrived on his boat with the apparent intention of 
attacking Tampico for the purpose of ransacking and plunder- 
ing it. The Chief Justice managed to surprise the sailors 
and captured Captain Hawkins and fifty-nine of his followers 
whom he sent to Mexico City. Besides these fifty-nine,' there 
were fifty-five who escaped from the prison and went into 
the mountains where undoubtedly they must have been 
devoured by the Tamaulipas Indians m" nothing was after- 
wards heard of them. Carvajal was afterwards appointed 
Governor of Nuevo Leon and later he and his family were 
subjects of the inquisition, being accused of being heretics and 
judizers. They were burned at the stake in Mexico City. 



CHAPTER II 

^ , . . r To the end that they might avoid Indian 

Colonization cf . . , f ,• .1 

— .. . uprisings, in order to neutrahze the propo- 

Tamaulipas and . . . , t- 1 1 • . r t 

-, sitions of the French colonists of Louisiana, 

Texas 

and for the purpose of civilizing the 

numerous tribes of Indians, who in their savage state wan- 
dered over Tamaulipas, then called Nueva Santander, the 
King of Spain finally decided to completely colonize that 
region. Jose de Escandon was duly appointed on the third 
day of September, 1746, to undertake the work. 

On the sixteenth day of November, 1748, with 755 soldiers 
and nearly 2,515 colonists. Colonel Escandon left Queretaro 
(about 165 miles north from Mexico City and 650 miles south 
of Brownsville), bound for the new province, which it was 
proposed to form in this territory for the purpose of making 
it a part of New Spain. This great convoy of colonists, 
soldiers, wagons, stock, loaded donkeys, etc., departed from 
Queretaro amid great demonstrations of sympathy and enthu- 
siasm. En route they touched at a number of towns in the 
provinces of Guanajuato, San Luis y Charcas, at which places 
additional families were added. 

During the month of January, 1749, Escandon founded, 
•among others, the villages of Guemez, about 20 miles east of 
Victoria, Mexico, 185 miles southwest of Brownsville; and 
Padilla, the place where Iturbide was afterwards executed, 
about 150 miles southwest of Brownsville. 

In February, 1749, Escandon founded what is now known 
as Jimenez (125 miles south of Matamoros) which he declared 
to be the capital of the new province, giving it the name of 
Nueva Santander. During the month of March, 1749, he 
founded on the Rio Grande what are now known as the 
villages of Carmargo (108 miles west of Brownsville) and 
Reynosa (58 miles west of Brownsville). Santander was 
named after a Spanish port of the same name, from which 



i8 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

Escandon emanated. Carmargo was founded on March 5, 
1749, and placed in charge of Bias Maria de la Garza Falcon. 
Reynosa, which was founded on the fourteenth day of March, 
was placed in charge of Captain Carlos Cantu who was the 
Chief Justice and became one of the richest landowners of the 
frontier. 

During 1750, Escandon, who had gone back to Queretaro, 
returned to this province bringing many more colonists with 
many herds of cattle. During the same year Escandon 
founded the village of Soto la Marina, 174 miles south of 
Matamoros, and colonized it with families from Queretaro. 
During the month of October, 1750, he founded the village 
of Revilla (now called Guerrero), near the Rio Grande, 
almost opposite to Zapata, Texas, about 150 miles northwest 
of Brownsville. 

During the year of 1752, were founded the villages of 
Santillana, now called Abasolo, on the Sota la Marina river, 
174 miles south of Matamoros. Mier (130 miles northwest 
of Matamoros), opposite Roma, Texas, was founded in 1753; 
and Laredo, Texas, on May 17, 1755. 

Escandon founded twenty towns, fifteen Indian missions 
with more than 3,000 Christian converts and more than 3,600 
Spaniards. During the year of 1768, Attorney Jose Osorio y 
llamas visited these places and made the surveys and sub- 
divisions of the different lands which the king had decided 
to give to the colonists. These grants are what are today 
known as "Acts of the General Visita" and consist of porci- 
ones or strips with from half a mile to a mile river front and 
from eleven to sixteen miles depth at right angles from the 
river. 

This province of New Santander was embraced in the 
jurisdiction of the San Luis Potosi intendencia (general land 
office) in 1786. 

During the year of 1792, the colonists suffered frequent 
invasions from the Apaches, Comanches, Mescaleros, and 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 19 

Kickapoos, especially along the border of the Rio Grande, 
and as late as 1875, some of these Indians depredated on the 
Texas border counties. 

At the end of the eighteenth century, there were 15,000 
inhabitants in the province of New Santander which province 
began at Tampico and followed the coast as far as Corpus 
Christi, thence northwestardly crossing the Medina river, 
thence southwardly slightly east of Laredo, and thence along 
the eastern range of the Sierra Madre Mountains, through 
Linares to Padilla and from Padilla to Tampico. 

On August 3, 1767, Sr. Palacio, Knight of the Order of St. 
James, began the laying out of the towns of Mier, Camargo, 
and Reynosa. With the church plazas as the center, the 
towns were laid off in squares of 10,000 varas on each side, 
or say, four square leagues of 4,428 acres each. Then, fixing 
them as nearly as possible so that there should be an equal 
number of an equal size on each side of the towns and on 
each side of the river, 111 porciones of an average width of 
1,500 varas and a depth of from 12,500 varas to 20,000 varas 
were laid off and allotted to the first settlers of Camargo, and 
80 porciones of an average width of 1,250 varas and a depth 
of from 20,000 to 25,000 varas were laid off and allotted to 
the first settlers of Reynosa. 

For some reason the territory adjacent to Matamoros 
(opposite Brownsville) and up to the east line of the Reynosa 
porciones was not considered for town settlement, and the 
lands embraced between what is known as the Olmos Creek 
(100 miles due north from Brownsville) and the Rio Grande, 
were allotted to wealthy cattle owners and Spaniards of 
reliability. Some of these grants, notably, the Espiritu 
Santo, the San Juan de Carricitos, and the San Salvador del 
Tule, contained from 250,000 to 500,000 acres each. Browns- 
ville is located on the Espiritu Santo grant. 

On the Mexican side of the river, a grant containing six 
hundred forty-two leagues, equivalent to 2,850,000 acres. 



20 A Brief History of the Lozver Rio Grande Valley 

was made to the Count of Cerro Gordo. This was made to 
the Count in part recompense for the great expenses he had 
incurred financing Escandon's expedition from Queretaro to 
the province of Nueva Santander. The Government of Spain 
had offered him such compensation if he would so colonize 
Nuevo Santander and would bring to this section priests to 
teach the gospel of the Holy Cross. This grant embraced 
about 100 miles river front beginning at the mouth of Rio 
Grande. 

In 1784, the Count sold to the first settlers at very moder- 
ate prices, $10.00 per league, 112 leagues fronting the Rio 
Grande on the Mexican side and extending from the east 
line of the Reynosa porciones to the south of the Rio Grande, 
or say, to the beach of the Gulf of Mexico. 

At the time of the arrival of the Spaniards east of the 
range of mountains which exists about 180 miles southwest 
from Matamoros, vast herds of wild cattle roamed these 
prairies and thousands of Indians made these lands their 
winter camping grounds. 

Matamoros, known as San Juan de los Esteros, was a con- 
gregation as far back as 1765, but was not given a name until 
1796, when it was called Congregation del Refugio. In 1821, 
it was organized as a village and was given the name, of 
Matamoros to commemorate the martyr, the priest, Mariano 
Matamoros, who had lost his life in Mexico's struggle for 
independence. 

***** 

„ After Mexico attained her independence in 1821, the 

Tcxa.s 

State of Tamaulipas was formed out of what was 

known as the Provincio del Nuevo Santander, and, as soon as 

her congress began its operations, various land laws were 

enacted to encourage the colonizing of the vast territory. 

The Provincio of Nuevo Santander extended north of the 

Rio Grande to the Nueces River, and southward to Tampico, 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 21 

Mexico, as shown on the maps of today. Being sovereign, 
the State of Tamaulipas controlled its own vacant lands, and 
in pursuance of laws enacted for the purpose between 1828 
and 1836, allotted to prominent Mexican citizens and soldiers 
who had served in the battles of the country, all vacant lands 
then found as such between the Rio Grande and the Nueces. 
Texas and Coahuila was the name of the territory north 
of the Nueces river, now known as Texas. From the time 
of Mexico's independence from Spain it was a part of Mexico. 
About the year 1821, Moses Austin, an American, was granted 
a large tract of land in Texas under the condition that he 
should colonize it with not less than five hundred families. 
This he attempted to do, but the policy of Mexico towards 
the colonists was one of oppression to which the Americans 
would not submit. During the year 1832 they revolted 
against Mexico, and in June of that year disarmed some two 
hundred Mexican soldiers at Velasco near the mouth of the 
Brazos river. In the first battle at Gonzales, the Mexicans 
were defeated. On March 6, 1836, the Alamo, a fort then 
maintained as such (now in the heart of San Antonio, Texas), 
was surrounded and captured by an overwhelming army of 
Mexicans, the few American or Texan survivors who were 
taken prisoners being massacred under circumstances of 
atrocity. Among these were David Crockett, Travis, James 
Bowie, and others who had distinguished themselves. Fannin 
and a force of nearly 300 had surrendered after an engage- 
ment near what is now called Goliad. They were later 
marched out and executed by the Mexicans. Finally, on 
April 21, 1836, the Texans, commanded by General Sam 
Houston, annihilated the Mexicans in a battle at San Jacinto, 
not far from Houston, Texas, and at one blow achieved the 
freedom of Texas. The Mexicans however, continued to 
hold the territory between the Nueces and Rio Grande, claim- 
ing that it had never been a part of Coahuila and Texas, and 



22 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

that it had always remained under the name of Nuevo 
Santander. 

-goc On April 3, 1835, the American sloop-of-war, Invin- 
cible, arrived at the port of Brazos de Santiago (22 
miles east of Brownsville on the Gulf of Mexico). There 
she found the Mexican sloop-of-war, General Bravo which 
was acting as a convoy for the Mexican transport schooner, 
Correo de Mexico, which was loaded with food supplies 
intended for the Mexican troops near Copano (near Goliad, 
Texas), on the Texas coast. The Invincible lowered a boat 
and sent an American officer, W. H. Livine, to the Bravo. 
Livine was received by the first lieutenant of the Bravo, a 
Mexican by the name of Fernando R. Davis. Livine explained 
the object of his visit to be to demand an explanation 
relative to certain insults to the American Consul at 
Matamoros. Davis held him as a hostage and immediately 
started a Mexican second lieutenant in the boat to the 
Invincible to invite the commander thereof to go ashore and 
communicate with the Consul at Matamoros. However, when 
the commander of the Invincible observed that the approach- 
ing yawl from the Bravo did not hold Livine he opened fire 
with artillery and rifles on the Bravo. The fire was returned 
but the Bravo was unable to pursue owing to the fact, as the 
Mexican commander claimed, that he had lost his rudder 
two days before. 

The Mexicans also opened fire from shore with artillery 
and the Correo got under sail to pursue the Invincible which 
in the meantime had hoisted all sail and retreated towards 
the pass or bar. 

As soon as the Invincible disappeared, Livine was tried 

before a court-martial and executed as a pirate on April 6. 

-j.„^ On April 9, 1837, the American man-of-war Natchez 

appeared off the port of Brazos de Santiago, 22 miles 

east of Brownsville, to investigate the detention of the 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 23 

American schooners, Champion and Luisiana, which were 
being held by the Mexican Bark Urrea and the Mexican 
squadron which patroled the Texas coast, the two schooners 
having been sent by the Mexicans to Brazos with their papers 
to be tried. The Champion was anchored inside of the 
harbor, but the Luisiana was anchored outside near the 
Urrea. The Natchez drew up within pistol shot distance 
from the Urrea and after consulting with the Captain of 
the Luisiana, ignoring the protests of the Mexican com- 
manders and the request that she should come to anchor, 
ordered the Mexican soldiers and sailors who were in 
temporary charge of the Luisiana to disembark, and there- 
upon towed the Luisiana away. The Natchez returned on 
the 12th, and after soliciting permission to communicate with 
the Captain of the Champion, which request was refused by 
the Mexicans, cleared her decks and threatening the Urrea 
should she move while the yawls were in, transit to and from 
shore where they went with a communication to the Captain 
of the Port, and finally demanded and made the Urrea lower 
her flag and hoist the stars and stripes. A small sized battle 
was staged by the Bravo which soon ended when the Natchez 
opened with her big guns and retired with the Champion in 
tow. Mexico immediately ordered that all vessels flying the 
American flag should be detained when found in Mexican 
waters, but finally agreed that those which had arrived and 
were engaged in peaceful commercial pursuits should be 
permitted to go their way. The Texan schooner Indepen- 
dence, however, having aboard the Commissioner who was to 
seek a recognition of the Texas independence, was detained. 
On June 24, 1837, Commodore A. J. Dallas, on the Frigate 
Constellation, accompanied by four boats of his squadron, 
appeared at Vera Cruz. Dallas disembarked and in an inter- 
view with the Port Captain, showed a letter from Gen. 
Filisola, commander at Matamoros, disavowing the acts of 



24 ^ Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

the Urrea relative to the Champion and Luisiana, attribut- 
ing the act to ignorance. Dallas exacled a like communica- 
tion from the Port Captain who had likewise disavowed the 
act. The Port Captain alleged that neither he nor Filisola 
had authority to admit such matters in writing, and referred 
him to the general government. Then Dallas addressed the 
Port Captain as follows: 

''Having carefully studied your communication, I find 
that the only point to which it might be necessary to 
answer is that relative to your lack of power to guarantee 
that the humbling and outrageous infraction of the existing 
treaty between the United States and the Republic of 
Mexico, committed by the naval forces of the latter in the 
capture of various American merchantmen shall not be 
repeated. By virtue thereof, it is my duty, and you may 
rest assured, Sir General, that with profound regret I take 
this step, to leave sufficient forces on the Mexican coast to 
protect the commercial interests of the United States against 
future aggressions." 

Some lengthy correspondence took place between the 
two governments which soon brought about a better state of 
feeling, however, and the matters complained of were soon 
passed over. 



CHAPTER III 

_ Not satisfied with the act of Santa Anna in surrender- 

ing his forces at San Jacinto, and believing it to have 
been an act of treachery, leaders of the Mexican army sought 
to reopen the affair and with that end in view assailed San 
Antonio, Texas, on the fifteenth day of September, 1842, 
carrying away with them as they retreated 60 prisoners. 

The Texans, hastily but poorly organized, immediately 
followed the Mexicans to Laredo, about 220 miles north- 
west from Brownsville, and from there marched down the 
river to a point opposite Mier, Mexico. 

On December 25-26, 1842, the Texans, some 261 in num- 
ber, attacked the Mier, Mexico, garrison, and had practically 
won the battle, according to the statements of Gen. Thos. 
Green, of the Texan forces, when, after a parley under a 
flag of truce they, 242 men, surrendered to the Mexicans. 
This surrender was impelled by a shortage of provisions and 
ammunition. In the battle of Mier, the Texans lost 16 killed 
and 8 wounded. The Mexican loss is unknown, but Gen. 
Green estimated it to be 250 killed and wounded. 

It was while these 242 prisoners were on the way to 
Mexico City overland that the Texans overpowered their 
captors and efifected their escape. Of those who escaped 
176 were recaptured. By order of Santa Anna they were 
made to draw beans, there being one black to every ten 
white. The person who should draw a black bean was to be 
shot. Seventeen w^ere executed. Capt. Ewin Cameron, a 
sturdy Scott who headed the expedition and after whom 
Cameron County, Texas, was named, drew a white bean and 
was entitled to his liberty, but by orders of Santa Anna he was 
executed near the City of Mexico. Some years later, after 
many had scaled the steep walls of their prison, the Castir 



26 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

of Perote, east of Mexico City, and had escaped, the remnant 
of the band was released and allowed to return to Texas\ 

:ic 4c :tc :|c 4: 

American Invasion Not long after the Mier affair, the 
of Mexico Texans became restless and sought 

annexation to the United States. The Mexican governm'^'nt 
objected and when, in 1845, Texas effected her annexation, 
the Mexicans repudiated the act and gave the American 
charge de affairs his passport. This brought about the war 
which soon followed. 

Anticipating a rupture with Mexico, the United States 
sent Gen. Zacariah Taylor from Fort Jessup, La., to Corpus 
Christi, Texas. 

In February, 1846, General Taylor started southward with 
part of his forces from Corpus overland, sending his supplies 
and munitions by the boat Woodbury, and the remainder by sea 
to Brazos de Santiago and Point Isabel (about 20 miles east 
from Brownsville). On his march south the army encamped 
at Rancho Santa Gertrudis, then occupied by Mexicans but for 
many years past the home of Mrs. H. M. King, the largest 
land and cattle owner in the South. Thence southward he 
traveled parallel with what is now the line of the St. Louis, 
Brownsville and Mexico Railway to a point on the Arroyo 
Colorado called Paso Real, about 34 miles north from 

^An amusing episode in connection with the IRON HAND in Mexico 
is the case of a Mrs. Hernandez, wife of a Captain under Gen. Adrian 
Well. WoU, who had been named as Military Commander of the State 
of Tamaulipas, with headquarters at Matamoros, sometime during the 
year 1854, decreed to exile all officers or citizens who had taken part in 
the adoption of the "PLAN DE AYUTLA" (It is interesting to note that 
this decree demanded the abdication of Gen. Santa Anna.) Many of the 
exiles, know^n as "LIBERALS" sought refuge in Brownsville, Texas, and 
through the medium of a periodical called El Rayo Federal which 
they circulated freely throughout Matamoros by private means, they 
violently attacked Woll and his methods. 

The leading spirit in those denunciatory writings was Mrsi. Hernandez. 
Upon being apprehended, she was arrested by order of General Woll, and 
as a punishment her hair was shorn, she was dressed in the costume of a 
man, placed astride a burro (donkey), and, thus degraded, was led through 
the streets of Matamoros. 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 27 

Brownsville. He arrived at a point about 12 miles north of 
Brownsville on March 24, 1846, and leaving the bulk of his 
army there, proceeded in person to Fronton (now Point 
Isabel). There he reenforced his supplies, returned, incor- 
porated with his entire command and proceeded south 
to Brownsville, then a part of the town commons of 
Matamoros. He engaged his army from the date of his 
arrival, March 28, in constructing what was afterwards named 
Fort Brown in commemoration of Major Jacob Brown who 
lost his life in its defense. In the meantime General Arista 
and General Pedro Ampudia, of the Mexican armies, arrived 
at Matamoros with a total of 5,200 men and 26 pieces of 
artillery. On April 10, 1846, Colonel Cross of the U. S 
quartermaster's department was waylaid and killed just west 
of what is now the site of the Brownsville waterworks. The 
murder was laid at the door of Mexican guerrillas. Lieuten- 
ant Porter with a squad of his men went out to look for the 
body. They were ambushed. Porter and one soldier killed, 
and the others taken prisoner. General Arista concentrated 
the Mexican cavalry to gather at Rancho Solisefio, south of 
the Rio Grande, 26 miles west from Matamoros, also send- 
ing the engineer corps and two companies of Light Artillery 
there. With a view to cut off Taylor's supplies, he crossed 
from Solisefio on April 24 and took a position on the Point 
Isabel road near Loma Alta (9 miles north of Brownsville"). 
Taylor, upon hearing of this move, sent Captain Thornton out 
with a detachment to investigate. Thornton and his me 
got as far as the river opposite to Soliseno, where they in 
turn were ambushed. Here Lieutenant Mason and 16 men 
were killed or wounded and Thornton and his men taken 
prisoners. On the twenty-eighth, a part of Walker's Texas 
rangers also met a force of the Mexicans just north of the 
Loma Alta and in an engagement several men were killed on 
each side. 



28 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

Taylor with his army, except some fifty men left at Fort 
Brown under command of Major Jacob Brown, left the Fort 
on th^ fir?t of May destined to Point Isabel where he 
believed the fresh salt atmosphere would recuperate the sick, 
and to look after his supplies. He also wished to protect 
his lin« of communication with the Point. 
.^ , . , Two brigades under Ampudia and Arista crossed 

Palo Alto ^ T - in -1 ^ r Ayr . 

■ rom Longoreno, 10 miles east of Matamoros, on 
the first of A-ay, and believing that Taylor was about to with- 
draw were determined to drive him and his army out of the 
territory. Leaving a great number of men with seven cannon 
to attack Brown, the bulk of the Mexican army proceeded 
north to Poma Alta. During the incessant bombardment of 
Fort Brown, the commander was mortally wounded and the 
garrison about to surrender. Taylor, anticipating this and 
having received news of the Mexican movements, departed 
from Point Isabel on May 7. On the eighth, the Americans 
and Mexicans confronted each other on the battlefield of 
Palo Alto, an extensive prairie 9 miles north of Brownsville, 
just west of Loria Alta. This prairie extends northward 
from the Resaca Rancha Viejo which is only 6 miles north 
from Brownsville. Unable to avail himself of the water in 
the Resaca, Taylor camped near the Palo Alto Resaca, 10 
miles north of Brownsville and about two miles southeast 
from the Los Fresnos townsite, then a mere ranch. 

Soon after the battle opened, Taylor brought his artillery 
to within seven hundred yards of the Mexicans and mowed 
their solid ranks of infantry. The Mexican right rested 
on the west end of Loma Alto hill and his left on the edge 
of an impassable marsh, a mile distant from the hill. Taylor 
endeavored to flank the enemy's left wing and to effect a 
crossing of the Resaca Rancho Viejo west of the Marsh. At 
dusk when the battle ceased, honors were about divided. 
When the battle began there were but 3,000 Mexican soldiers 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 29 

present, but soon thereafter Ampiulia came np with his 
reenforcements and the total number opposed to the Ameri- 
cans was 5,000. 

The Mexican loss was 102 killed and 127 wounded. The 
American loss was 9 killed and 44 wounded, among the 
killed being Major Ringgold of the 4th U. S. artillery, and 
Captain Page. 

During the early hours of May 9, the Mexicans 

retired southward and made a stand at Resaca 

la Palma ^ • 1 • i • ^ -d 11 

(jruerrero, since known in history as Resaca de la 

Palma. Here they planted three cannon on the north bank of 
the Resaca and the greater part of the Infantry, supporting 
these with four cannon on the south side of the Resaca 
distributed on each side of the road from Point Isabel, and 
with the remainder of the infantry protected behind the 
banks of the Resaca. The cavalry was distributed along the 
western turn of the Resaca, and a body called Defensores de 
Tampico were entrenched and hidden in the woods west of 
the old road which came south from Resaca Rancho Viejo in 
the direction of Brownsville. 

In front and to the north of the position taken by the 
Mexicans tlicre was, and still is, a prairie about three miles 
in length then covered with sacahuiste (wire) grass, and 
to the west along the road on both sides, quite a chaparral 
of mesquite, ebony, and other native woods. Ridgeley's 
battery was with great difficulty transported over this prairie, 
the grass impeding progress. After the first discharges, 
unable to withstand the galling fire of the Mexican cannon, 
General Taylor ordered Captain May of the dragoons to 
charge the position. This he successfully did, his men gallop- 
ing, four abreast along the narrow winding road, and captur- 
ing General La Vega and routing the 'Mexicans whose army 
fled in great disorder followed by the Americans. They 
crossed 9 miles west of Brownsville, 1 mile west, 6 miles east 



30 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

and 14 miles east, many drowning in their attempts to ford the 
Rio Grande. 

The American loss in the battle of Resaca de la Palma 
was 39 killed and 83 wounded. The Mexican loss on the 
battlefield, 160 killed and 228 wounded, more than two 
hundred missing. Both armies rested a few days, the 
Mexicans at Matamoros and the Americans at Browns- 
ville and Ramirefio (now within the city limits of Browns- 
ville). In the exchanges of prisoners, Thornton and his 
men were delivered to Taylor's army. 

. By May 17, the Mexican army now consisting of 

^ . 4,000 regulars had evacuated Matamoros, and 

General Taylor crossed with his army on the 
eighteenth, the first Americans in Mexico. 

In July, 1846, General Taylor and Staff were transported 
from Fort Brown (Brownsville) to Camargo (on the Rio 
Grande, 108 miles west from Brownsville) on the steam- 
boat Corvette; Capt. Mifflin Kenedy, and the army marched 
overland arriving there on August 8, 1846. From Camargo, 
Gen. Taylor and his army began the march to Monterrey. 
En route they stopped at Cerralvo (140 miles west from 
Brownsville) where some of Ampudia's soldiers attempted 
to block the road and to check the advance. 

On September 21, 1846, Gen. Worth carried the 
Monterrey heights on which is situated the Bishop's Palace, 
Monterrey, 206 miles northwest of Matamoros. On the 
twenty-third, Generals Quitman and Butler assailed the front. 
Soon the American flag was floating over the Municipal hall in 
Monterrey, while the Mexicans fle(f in great disorder. Ampu- 
dia was granted the honors of war on condition that he should 
vacate the city, and he soon did this. An armistice of 
eight weeks was agreed on. When it had expired it was 
found that the Mexicans had mustered a force of 20,000 
men in the interior of the Republic. 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 31 

On November 15, 1846, the Americans under General 
Saltillo Y^Qj-th captured Saltillo, about 300 miles northwest of 
Matamoros. Shortly afterwards, Victoria, capital of Tamauli- 
pas, 220 miles southwest of Matamoros, was taken by Gen. 
Robert Patterson. In the meantime, Tampico, 335 miles south 
of Matamoros, on the gulf, had capitulated to Captain 
Connor of the American flotilla. 

On February 23, 1847, at Buena Vista, 25 
Buena Vista ^.^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^ Saltillo, another battle was 

fought and here again the Americans defeated the Mexican 
army. This was General Taylor's last battle, and he and his 
men soon returned to the Texas frontier, 

. On March 9, 1847, Gen. Winfield Scott, with about 
Scott m j2^QQQ ^^^^ landed near Vera Cruz. A fierce battle 
ensued, the batteries of San Juan d'Ulloa resisting 
for four days. Then the Mexicans surrendered. On April 8, 
1847, the Americans set out towards Jalapa (on what is now 
the Interoceanic railway about 80 miles from Vera Cruz). On 
April 22, 1847, was fought the battle of Cerro Gordo 
where the Americans captured two fortified strongholds 
situated on the top of almost insurmountable peaks. On 
May 15, 1847, the Americans marched into Puebla about 200 
miles west from Vera Cruz. On the twentieth of August, 1847, 
the Americans captured Contreras, 8 miles from Mexico 
City, and on the same day they took Churubusco, 3 miles 
from Mexico City. On September 13, Chapultepec was 
carried by storm, and on the fourteenth of September the 
American flag floated from the National Palace in the beau- 
tiful City of Mexico, 293 miles west from Vera Cruz. 



CHAPTER IV 

After the capture of Mexico City by the Americans, a 
commission was named to negotiate for peace, and on Feb- 
ruary 2, 1848, it submitted its report, which later, March 
16, 1848 was ratified by the President of the United States. 
This treaty recognized the Rio Grande as the boundary 
line between the United States and Mexico. 

^ Immediately after the treaty became effective, Ameri- 

Tcx3.s 

cans began to flock to the border and American 

troops garrisoned the border towns on the Texas 
side. 

In the year 1851, Jose , Maria Carvajal, a prominent 
Mexican who had been educated in the United States, 
returning to his native heath, Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mex- 
ico, headed a revolt against the local state government. 
He insisted that the customs duties on goods destined 
to points within a certain distance from the Rio Grande 
(this territory was afterwards called "LA ZONA LIBRE") 
should be removed and that such goods should be permitted 
to enter duty free, considering the great distance over 
rough, bandit-infested roads that merchandise should have 
to be ■ hauled unless imported from Texas. He enlisted 
many Mexican ranchmen and more than a hundred Ameri- 
cans who lived at places along the banks of the river, 
on both sides. He succeeded in invading the City of 
Matamoros and with his men surrounded the public plaza 
held by General Avalos. After a very desultory fight, 
Carvajal demanded the surrender of the city. Avalos 
answered that he might have surrendered to Mexicans and 
fellow-countrymen, but so long as Carvajal had selected 
to enlist foreigners he would resist. The entire citizen- 
ship then reenforced Avalos who drove the invaders out 
with great loss. For their efforts to preserve the integrity 
of the City, the Local State Congress and the City Council 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 33 

conferred upon the City the title "HEROIC," which ever 
since must be a part of the name on all legal documents. 
It likewise had issued a letter of commendation conferring 
upon the City the words "UNCONQUERABLE, LOYAL, 
and HEROIC." Carvajal and Canales were at once pursued 
but took refuge in Brownsville. 

In February, 1862, Carvajal again attempted to head 
a revolt and with about five hundred dissenters from both 
sides of the river, Mexicans and Americans, and with an 
original twelve pounder, crossed into , Mexico with the 
avowed purpose of successfully carrying out his original 
plan, called "Plan de la Loba," which referred to the 
establishment of the aforementioned "Free Zone." He was 
engaged in battle this time at Rancho Azucar, very close 
to Camargo, and being defeated, soon disbanded. For their 
great patriotism and heroic defense of their country, the 
Mexican officers and troops were decorated with medals 
and many honors were conferred upon them. 

During the year 1854, a party of outlaws disguised as 
Indians, raided the town of Roma and Rio Grande. They 
looted the churches and did other acts of vandalism. They 
had also attacked the U. S. troops at various places on the 
border, entering their camps at night-time and shooting 
the sentinels. Special orders No. 20, dated Corpus Christi, 
Texas, May, 1854, issued by Pvt. Capt. Alfred Gibbs, 
attested by Asst. Adjt. Genl. D. C. Buell, directed and author- 
ized Col. B. G. Roberts to pursue and chastise the mis- 
creants. Two of the leaders, notorious outlaws who had 
terrorized the neighborhood for many years, were captured 
by Roberts' troops, who after identification immediately 
hung them on the public highway between Roma and Rio 
Grande, Texas. 



34 ^ Brief History of the Loiver Rio Grande Valley 

Cortina Not the least in importance of the episodes along the 
Raid lower Rio Grande border was what has been called 

"The CORTINA RAID." After the treaty of Guadaloupe, 
agreed upon between Mexico and the United States in Febru- 
ary, 1848, some questions arose in the Valley as to the real 
ownership of various tracts of land theretofore Mexican, 
but at the time referred to, under Texas jurisdiction. The 
most notable was that of the present townsite of Browns- 
ville, some 1,500 acres. 

The Espiritu Santo grant, some 260,000 acres, had been 
allotted to Jose Salvador de la Garza in 1782. Upon the 
death of Garza and his wife it descended to their children 
and their heirs. Among these were Maria Josefa Cavazos 
(who though not a direct descendant, nevertheless, inherited 
through an aunt) and Juan Nepomuceno Cortina, a great- 
grandson of the original grantee. 

The present townsite of Brownsville and of Fort Brown 
is located on that part of the grant which was allotted and 
set apart to Maria Josefa Cavazos. 

Before an American invasion was even thought of, the 
Matamoros congregation had denounced its customary four 
leagues for a townsite and in so doing had included all the 
land on the Texas side up to what is now called the 
Brownsville City limits. The Mexican City of Matamoros 
controlled and claimed this land as a part of the Matamoros 
town commons, but, it appeared from testimony afterwards 
adduced, had never complied with the Mexican law which 
provided that when land should be taken for such purposes 
the original owner should be compensated therefor. Con- 
sequently, upon becoming a part of Texas, a great many 
squatters, holders of headrights, certificates, bounty war- 
rants, etc., located on the Matamoros town commons, situ- 
ated on the Texas side, alleged them to be VACANT or 
NATIONAL LANDS pertaining to the Republic of Mexico 



/ 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 35 

and through conquest, to the United States or Texas, and 
,not to individuals. The celebrated lawsuit, PATRICK 
v' SHANNON VERSUS CAVAZOS, was the result of this 
contention. When the case was carried to the Supreme 
court of the United States and there dismissed for want of 
jurisdiction, the Mexican owners suspected foul play; and 
then began the first discord between the two races, aside 
from the natural prejudice which had resulted from the 
American invasion of Mexico. The 1,500 acres ultimately 
became the property of a firm of American lawyers. 

While this litigation was going on relative to the town- 
site, efforts were being made by the Americans to acquire 
all of the lands of the grant, and two or three leagues were 
exacted by the American lawyers for services in striving 
to straighten out the titles. Cortina's mother who was 
one of the grandchildren of Garza, the original grantee, 
^conveyed a league of her land in order to protect her 
V vested title and Cortina resented the gradual encroach- 
fcment of the Americans. As a result, a state of ill-feeling 
Eexisted between him and the American officials. 
R Juan Nepomuceno Cortina had borne arms against the 
Rlndians during his youth, and had belonged to Arista's 

■ command at the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma. 

■ On July 13, 1859, Cortina was in the City of Brownsville 
jjwith some of his ranch companions. A former servant of 
"his was arrested by the City Marshal for creating a dis- 
■^turbance in a cafe. The City Marshal handled the servant 

Jin a somewhat rough manner. Cortina resented this action, 
and drawing his pistol fired twice at the marshal, the 
second shot wounding him in the shoulder. He then mounted 
his horse, took the rescued Mexican behind him, and 
^defying the authorities, galloped out of the City with his 
■followers towards his ranch. El Carmen, 9 miles northwest 
|of the^City. 



36 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

Later, before daylight on the morning of September 28, 
1859, Cortina entered Brownsville with a body of men esti- 
mated at from fifty to eighty, leaving two small parties on 
foot outside, one near the cemetery and the other near 
Ramirefio. Armed men paraded the streets an.d sentinels 
were placed at every corner. Cries of "Mueran los Gringos!" 
(death to Americans) "Viva Mexico" resounded through the 
streets. Cortina stood at a corner near Miller's hotel and 
avowed his determination to kill the Americans but assured 
Mexicans and foreigners that they should not be molested. 
He or his followers killed three Americans and two Mexi- 
cans and then retired to the Mexican side, keeping an 
organized force under his control, and also establishing 
himself on the American side at Rancho El Carmen. Later 
during October and November, 1859, he had several 
engagements with American volunteers and Texas Rangers, 
the Mexican National Guard with its artillery planted on 
the fortifications of Matamoros standing ready to assist 
him. Cortina defeated the Americans on both occasions and 
soon many Mexicans flocked to his standard, regarding him 
as the man who would right the wrongs of the Mexicans. 

Major Heintzelman, with United States troops, arrived 
at Fort Brown, Texas, on December 5, 1859, and joining 
forces with Tobins' Rangers and the Brownsville citizens 
he soon drove Cortina from his stronghold at Carmen and 
following him, defeated him at Rio Grande City on Decem- 
ber 27, 1859. Cortina then crossed into Mexico and after 
making one more raid into Texas, interested himself in the 
affairs of his own country except as shown in the pages hereof. 

Matamoros, Mexico, was rent with internal disorders and 
wars from the hour of its creation, it might be said. One of the 
most sanguinary conflicts was that of 1861. The State 
elections were held after much bitter feeling on both sides. 
The candidates were Cipriano Guerrerro and Jesus de la 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 37 

Serna. Guerrerro adopted the yellow flag and called his 
army the CRINOLINOS, while Serna adopted the red flag 
and called his army the ROJAS. The declared result of 
the election was in favor of Serna, but on July 8, 1861, 
the State legislature ordered that a new election should 
be held alleging fraud on the part of Serna's supporters. 
The Rojos refused to respect this order, armed themselves 
and took charge of the machinery of the government, install- 
ing their candidate, Serna. The Crinolinos armed them- 
selves, and soon the entire state was involved, many bloody 
battles occurring. It must be recalled that at this very time 
Mexico was threatened by the triple alliance, England, 
France and Spain by reason of the reform laws enacted 
during the Juarez administration in 1857, whereby the 
church properties had been declared confiscated and most 
of the foreign debts repudiated. The Crinolinos took posses- 
sion of Matamoros early in September, driving out the Rojos, 
who found a refuge in Brownsville where they openly 
recruited and organized under their leaders. 

During the month of October, 1861, a great body of 
Rojos crossed from the Texas side into Mexico and 
incorporating with reinforcements sent northward from 
Victoria, Tamaulipas, they at once besieged Matamoros. 
In what was then a beautiful and prosperous city, now 
followed the bloodiest struggle between Mexicans known 
in the history of Tamaulipas. Houses were burned and 
destroyed, cannonading, musketry firing, and hand to hand 
encounters occurred daily on the streets; worthy officers 
and intelligent leaders were executed without pretense of a 
trial, and commerce was completely paralyzed from October 
21 to the latter part of December. The Crinolinos tri- 
umphed but their administration was shortlived as three 
days after the siege was raised. Governor Vidaurri of 
Nuevo Leon placed his troops in command to restore order. 



38 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

Brownsville lived in daily dread, the firing in Matamoros 
being a constant menace. Hundreds of women and chil- 
dren came across the river, and deserters, common charges 
-upon our people, robbed and killed with impunity. Hun- 
dreds of Mexican-Texans, and numeros Americans partici- 
pated in the battles. Among those killed were Col. William 
Cameron, a Scotchman who owned many thousands of 
acres of land in Texas, and Colonel Kinney of Corpus Christi. 



CHAPTER V 
1861-1865 

. At the outbreak of the Civil war between the 
TT • ^c^ ^" states, the Texas border was garrisoned by 
United States ^^j-ioits companies of the U. S. First Artillery 
at Fort Brown, Ringgold Barracks and Fort Mcintosh, and 
Companies C and E of the Third Infantry, the principal offi- 
cers in command being: Maj. C. C. Sibley, 3rd Infantry, 
Fort Mcintosh; Major W. H. French, 1st and 2nd Artillery, 
Fort Brown; Lieut. -Col. E. Backus, 3rd Infantry, Fort Brown; 
Capt. B. H. Hill, 1st Artillery; Lieut. James Thompson, 2nd 
Artillery; and 2nd Lieut. G. D. Bailey, 2nd Artillery. 

E. B. Nichols, Commissioner for Texas, arrived at Browns- 
ville on February 22, 1861, and immediately requested an inter- 
view with Capt. B. H. Hill, the purpose of which was to ask 
that those of the U. S. Army who were not disposed to 
link their fortunes with the Confederates should embark and 
leave the State and should turn over to the Texas authorities 
all government property then in their possession along the 
Rio Grande. 

An agreement was reached whereby the Federals should 
leave the Texas border and coast, but the delivery of the 
ordnance and other supplies was refused. Some of the stores 
and arms were burned at Brazos de Santiago but the Texans 
landed and took possession of a considerable quantity, 

Maj. Fitz John Porter, Assistant Adjutant General, U. S. 
Army, Fort Brown, sailed from New York on the Steamer, 
Daniel Webster, February 15, 1861, with provisions for the 
troops to embark at Brazoz de Santiago; arrived at Indi- 
anola, Texas, on March 2 and on the third oi¥ Brazos. With 
Companies M, Second Artillery and Companies C and E of 
the 3rd Infantry, he arrived at New York on the thirtieth. 
When he left Brazos de Santiago the Texas Volunteers 
immediately took possession of all the garrisons along the 
border, thus leaving the Confederates in entire control. 



40 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

On December 26, 1862, an armed party of Mexicans, some 
forty in number, crossed the Rio Grande at the Mexican 
town of Las Cuevas (directly opposite to Los Ebanos, 82 
miles west from Brownsville) attacked a train of Confederate 
wagons with provisions, killed 3 of the teamsters, took the 
entire contents of the wagon train, and then recrossed into 
Mexico. 

On December 26, 1862, a party of Mexicans passed at the 
place called Clareno (164 miles west from Brownsville) and 
there killed the Chief Justice of Zapata County, Isidro Vela. 
Capt. Refugio Benavides of the Confederate army, with about 
25 men, pursued the party after it had crossed into Mexico, 
killing three and dispersing the others. 

On April 11, 1863, a party of cattle thieves passed over 
into Mexico near what is now called the town of Zapata, 
driving quite a herd of stolen Texas cattle. Capt. Santos 
Benavides of the Confederate Army followed them into the 
very town of Guerrerro, Mexico. Although he did not 
capture the thieves, he drove them out of the country. Captain 
Benavides took with him but 30 men and was ordered by the 
Mexicans to retire from Mexican soil, it being alleged that 
he was violating the treaty between Mexico and the United 
States, but he refused to do so until he should communicate 
with the Mexican alcalde and obtain assurances of a cessa- 
tion of the banditti operations on the Texas side. He suc- 
ceeded in this. 

On November 1, 1862, the Confederate forces along the 
Rio Grande were as follows: 

Rio Grande City (Ringgold Barracks) 3rd Texas 

Infantry 648 men 

Corpus Christi, 4 companies infantry 303 men 

Fort Brown, 4 companies cavalry 404 men 

Rio Grande, 1 company heavy artillery 62 men 

Rio Grande, 1 company light battery 52 men 

Rio Grande, 1 company mounted rifles 76 men 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 41 

Rio Grande, 1 company mounted rifles 79 men 

Corpus Christi, 1 company light battery 87 men 

Corpus Christi, 1 company heavy artillery 91 men 

Corpus Christi, 1 company mounted rifles 83 men 

Corpus Christi, 1 company infantry 120 men 



2,005 men 
From the time that the Confederates first took charge of 
the Valley territory, they remained under the command of 
Col. P. N. Luckett and Col. John S. Ford until the arrival of 
Gen. H. P. Bee on the twenty-ninth day of January, 1863. The 
aggregate force at Fort Brown and between Fort Brown and 
Ringgold Barracks (Rio Grande City) was maintained at 
about 1,200 men. 

Many hundreds -of supposedly neutrals flocked from the 
interior of Texas to Matamoros where those who were 
unable to move forward remained, and from whence many 
embarked to New Orleans for enlistment in the Union Army. 
Among others was Col. E. J. Davis and A. J. Hamilton, Union 
sympathizers. Davis had served as district judge in the 
Lower Valley for some years before the war. 

The Federal Steamer Honduras, arrived ofif the mouth of 
the Rio Grande on March 6, 1863, but owing to rough seas 
was unable to discharge her cargo or passengers until on the 
afternoon of March 10. Among those who landed were Col. 
E. J. Davis and Capt. W. W. Montgomery, then Union offi- 
cers. On March 15, at three o'clock in the morning, as Davis 
and others were at Bagdad, Mexico, at the mouth of the river, 
about to take passage to New Orleans on the Honduras, a 
number of citizens and confederate soldiers oflf duty, crossed 
from the Texas side into Bagdad and after a slight skirmish 
with those who were able to resort to arms, captured Davis, 
Montgomery, and several others, bringing them to the Texas 
side. The Mexican Governor, Albino Lopez, immediately 



42 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

demanded a return of the prisoners. General Bee, the Con- 
federate commander, at once had Davis brought in and sent 
across to the Mexican authorities with apologies, but his men 
already had hung Captain Montgomery. This promised for a 
while to bring on complications with Mexico, but was soon 
passed as an episode of the war. 

CONFEDERATE EVACUATION OF BROWNSVILLE 

IN 1863 

On October 27, 1863, a number of the Mexican soldiers 
in the Confederate Army under General Bee, revolted, killed 
one Dashiel, of the same company, wounded Jerry Litteral, 
and afterwards, circumventing Fort Brown and Brownsville at 
a place called Ramireiio, came upon and killed Antonio Cruz 
and the former sherifif, Jeff. Barthelow. General Bee at once 
became suspicious of the various Mexican organizations 
enlisted under his command, and in fact, even of the loyalty 
of some of the Americans. 

On the date of the arrival off Brazos de Santiago of the 
Federal fleet, Fort Brown, Brazos, and in fact, all of the 
garrisons along the Texas border were occupied by the Con- 
federates under Gen. H. P. Bee. The company command- 
ers stationed at the different posts were: Capt. Richard Tay- 
lor, Company A, 33rd Texas Cavalry; Capt. Henry F. Davis, 
Company F; Capt. Franklin Cummings, Special Service; 
Capt. Thomas Rabb, 33rd Texas Cavalry; Capt. J. H. 
Robinson, 33rd Texas Cavalry; Lieut. James Tucker of 
Fox's Battery; Lieut. J. R. Vinton; Lieut. Walter L. Mann, 
1st Texas Cavalry; Capt. John S. Greer, Ordnance Depart- 
ment; Major Charles Russell. The total number of men 
however, did not exceed 1,200. 

At 6 p. M., November 1, 1863, the Federal command under 
Maj.-Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks came to anchor off the 
bar at Brazos de Santiago and on the second at about noon a 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Vallev 43 



number of the boats had crossed the bar and anchored in the 
bay. The force consisted of the Second Division, 13th Army 
Corps, and the 13th and 15th Regiments of the Maine Volun- 
teers; First Texas Cavalry, and the 1st Engineers and 16th 
Negro Infantry, a total of 6,998 men, including the First 
Brigade Brig. Gen. William Vandever and the Second 
Brigade, Col. William McE. Dye. The 94th Illinois Volun- 
teers entered Brownsville on the evening of the fifth of 
November, and on the next day the First Missouri Light 
Artillery and 13th Maine Volunteers came in. And within 
a few days thereafter, the others came in, some from Point 
Isabel over the old Palo'Alto and Resaca de la Palma battle- 
fields and others via the river route. 

General Bee received news at 3 o'clock on the afternoon of 
November 2, 1863, of the landing of the Federal Expedition 
at Brazos and at once prepared to evacuate. In the after- 
noon of the third, after setting fire to all government build- 
ings, some of the cotton stored in the garrison, two hundred 
bales at Freeport (near what is now the International bridge), 
and throwing many bales into the river. Bee and the Confeder- 
ate army marched northward towards Santa Gertrudis (now 
Kingsville) where he arrived on the morning of the eighth. 
Before his departure, however, Captain Taylor, Confederate, 
who had been reconnoitering near the mouth of the river, 
was driven back by the Federals. 

The fire from the garrison spread and soon destroyed an 
entire block of city property then fronting on the Rio 
Grande. To add to the disorder and terror with which the 
unprotected citizens of the town were subjected, 8,000 pounds 
of powder stored in the garrison, exploded, shaking every 
building in the town and causing the women and children 
to become panic-stricken. A great quantity of commissary 
and quartermaster stores were consumed and for a while 
everything was chaos. 



44 ^ Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

A home guard was organized and attempted to restore 
order and to save as much property as possible, and to them 
and the assistance rendered by Mexicans from Matamoros, 
may be ascribed the success in saving anything. Rumors 
spreading that the confederates were plundering the city, 
with permission of the city authorities. Gen. Jose Maria 
Cobos, a refugee from Mexico, then in Brownsville, where he 
had been since March 1, organized the Brownsville citizens. 
He remained in charge from the evening of the third until 
the evening of the fifth, when, with numerous adherents whom 
he had enlisted in his behalf during his stay in Brownsville, 
he crossed to Matamoros, immediately imprisoned the Mili- 
tary Governor, Sefior Don Manuel Ruiz, and all of his offi- 
cers, and assumed control of Matamoros. He issued a 
manifesto calling upon his countrymen to unite with him, 
and began his propaganda to assist the imperialistic cause. 
On the morning of the seventh, however, General Cortina, 
who had united with Cobos and pretended to be in hearty 
accord with his propaganda, having discovered some of his 
proclamations and suspecting his sincerity, ascertaining that 
he favored the Imperialistic party, started after Cobos. The 
latter had been going the rounds early on the morning of the 
seventh, investigating the prisons and pointing out those who 
should be executed as traitors. Cortina with a detachment ot 
his followers came upon Cobos about 9 o'clock a. m., and at 
once notified him of his arrest and that within an hour he 
should be executed. Cobos, after pleading for a priest as a 
confessor and being denied one, calmly knelt and with his chin 
resting on his cane, met his death undismayed. His aide, Vela, 
was ordered to run the gauntlet and was killed while doing so. 
***** 

On December 26, 1863, Gen. N. J. T. Dana, in command 
at Fort Brown, Texas, received a communication from 
Leonard Pierce, Jr., Consul of the U. S. at Matamoros, 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 45 

Mexico, advising him that Governor Serna had invited several 
merchants of that city to his office, among them Jeremiah 
Galvan and one or two Americans; that they had been 
escorted to an anteroom and were being held as prisoners 
subject to the payment of a forced loan of $5,000.00 each. 
The Consul appealed to General Dana to interpose his influ- 
ence in the matter. Dana immediately addressed a letter to 
Serna informing him that his act in detaining the Americans 
was illegal; that they were secure from forced loans in their 
own country and did not know how to submit to them from 
any other power on earth; that it was his (Dana's) duty to 
c?re for the entire safety of every loyal man, woman, and child 
of the United States; that he did not imagine that all profes- 
sions of friendship from Mexico toward the United States 
were to be considered merely as complimentary words; that 
it would be time for the Americans to submit when they 
might not have the power to protect themselves; that he 
could not remain an idle or uninterested spectator; that he 
would now make a peremptory protest against any such 
action. He demanded that if any such measures had been 
commenced that they should be forthwith discontinued, and 
wound up with "I SHALL HOLD MYSELF IN INSTANT 
READINESS FOR YOUR EXCELLENCY'S REPLY." 
The staff officer who carried the communication reported 
that when Serna first read it he was inclined to assume the 
position that "if American citizens did not like the laws of 
Mexico, they were at liberty to remain from its soil," and sent 
that verbal message. But a courier at the very moment 
arrived in great haste with the report that the Americans had 
taken possession of the ferryboats. This caused some excite- 
ment and brought an immediate reply to the effect "It not 
being the desire of the Government to place any forced con- 
tributions on the American citizens. I have this moment 



46 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

given orders that in this respect, or anything else of the 
kind, there shall not be molested any citizens of the United 
States that shall be met with at this port." 

At the hour of sending the communication to Matamoros, 
General Dana ordered eight pieces of artillery, two squadrons 
of cavalry and five battalions of infantry to get under arms 
with ammunition and two days' rations. 



CHAPTER VI 

Matters on the Rio Grande, so far as the territory east of 
Laredo is concerned, remained quiet until early in June when 
Col. John S. Ford, having recuperated his forces up to within 
1,200, began a systematic guerrilla warfare on all outposts. 
He was very successful in these operations, so much so, that 
on June 16 he occupied Rio Grande Cit3% the Federals with- 
drawing towards Brownsville. 

* * * * * * 

Gen. Francis J. Herron arrived and assumed command 
of the Federals on January 3, 1864. At that time there were 
in the Lower Valley 6,479 U. S. soldiers with 16 heavy guns 
and 12 field guns. The forces were as follows: White: 
91st Illinois and 94th Illinois; 19th, 20th, and 38th Iowa; 20th 
Wisconsin, making six companies of Infantry: 1st Missouri 
Light Artillery, Provisional Battery; 1st Texas Cavalry, 
three companies under Major E. J. Noyes, Vidal's Partisans, 
Lieut. Henry Phillips. Negroes: 87 and 95 Infantry. 

On January 12, 1864, at 10 p. m., American Consul, Leonard 
Pierce, Jr., of Matamoros, addressed the following to Gen. 
Francis J. Herron, Commanding U. S. forces at Brownsville, 
Texas: 

"General: A battle is now raging in the streets of this 
City between the forces of Governor Manuel Ruiz and Col. 
Juan N. Cortina. My person and family are in great danger 
as the road between here and the ferry is said to be infested 
with robbers. I have also about $1,000,000 in specie and a 
large amount of other valuable property under my charge 
in the consulate, and from the well-known character of 
Cortina and his followers, I fear the city will be plundered. 
I therefore earnestly request that you will send a sufficient 
force to protect myself and property and to transport the 
money within the limits of the United States at the earliest 
possible moment." 



48 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

Almost at the same time, the General received a communi- 
cation from Governor Ruiz corroborating the above and 
asking him to send over the troops to protect property. 

Immediately after the firing commenced, General Herron 
dispatched Colonel Black, 37th Illinois Infantry, to the Consu- 
late to inform himself of the true condition of affairs. Upon 
his report and in view of the above communications. General 
Herron sent ,over Col. Henry Bertram, 20th Wisconsin 
Infantry, -with. 40 men to take charge of the ferry; and four 
companies of the same regiment went to the Consulate. The 
firing ceased for about an hour after the arrival there of 
the American troops and, learning there was to be no inter- 
ference, they started again, taking care not to touch the 
Consulate. The firing continued until noon next day, the 
Ruiz party retreating in every direction. About 50 men were 
killed and 100 wounded on both sides. Ex-Gov. Albino 
Lopez was one of the killed. Ruiz had 800 men and 4 pieces 
of artillery: Cortina 600 and six pieces of artillery. Con- 
siderable damage was done to the buildings by the artillery 
fire, and lawless bands plundered all that day and night. 
Cortina immediately proclaimed himself as Governor. 

On June 23, 1864, the Federals had brought in nearly all 
of the outposts along the river. On the twenty-sixth. Ford 
advanced from Rio Grande to Edinburg. On July 12, 1864, 
General Herron was relieved of the command and sailed two 
days later for Morganza, La. The 91st Illinois, 1st Texas 
Cavalry under Capt. P. G. Temple, 1st Missouri Artillery 
under Lieut. A. Hils, 19th Iowa Infantry, and the 81st Negro 
Engineers remained at Brazos de Santiago under command of 
Col. H. M. Day, all others embarking with General Herron. 

On June 25, 1864, Col. John S. Ford, with a force of from 
250 to 400, led by Lieutenant-Colonel Showalter, Captain 
Refugio Benavides, Captain Cater, Captain Dunn, Capt. Cristo- 
bal Benavides, Captain Ferrill, Lieutenant Gardiner,, and 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 49 

Lieutenant Coulter in action, and Lieutenant-Colonel Fisher, 
Maj. Felix Blucher, Captain Fry, and Lieutenant Duggan, 
came upon a force of 100 men of Companies A and C, Davis 
Texas Cavalry, commanded by Captain Temple, First Texas 
Cavalry, who were encamped at Las Rucias Ranch (24 miles 
west from Brownsville), on picket duty. The Federals took 
refuge in the brick house which is still in good condition, the 
only brick building there. The Federals who were defeated, 
lost 2 killed, 5 wounded, and 28 prisoners. The Confederates 
lost in killed, Capt. James Dunn, an old ranger. Sergeant 
Ccckferel, and Hijenio Sanchez of Showalter's command and 1 
Lieutenant and eleven men wounded. Many of the Federals 
escaped to the Mexican side of the river. The Confederates 
also captured 2 wagons, 28 horses, and a number of saddles. 

After the battle at Las Rucias, Ford pushed to within 
five miles of Brownsville and attempted to cut off communi- 
cation between it and Brazos, but failed. He then fell back 
to Edinburg (now Hidalgo), where he remained awaiting 
reenforcements. Ford's total forces at that time east of 
Ringgold Barracks was about 1,800 men scattered over the 
territory down to within five miles north of Brownsville and 
over towards Point Isabel. General Slaughter had left San 
Antonio and was marching toward Ringgold Barracks (now 
Rio Grande City) with five regiments and one battery. 
These moved into Brownsville on July 30, 1864, with Colonel 
Ford, meeting with no resistance, and finding Maj. E. W. Cave 
and a party of citizens in quiet possession of the town. 

On August 9, 1864, 75 men from the 81st Negro Engineers 
went to Point Isabel from Brazos in quest of lumber which 
had been landed there for their use. They were surprised 
by a small body of Confederates who attacked them about 
2 p. M. The Confederates retreated, but Captain Jordan, in 
command of the Federals also retreated to the little Steamer 
Hale which had brought him over. Next day Capt. Wm. M. 



50 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

Shepherd of the 91st IlHnois with a detachment from that 
regiment and from the 19th Iowa, returned to Point Isabel 
and effected a landing, the Confederates retiring. 

On August 1, 1864, but 1,200 Federals remained in this 
territory, these being stationed at Brazos de Santiago under 
Colonel Day. 

On August 26, 1864, General Cortina appeared before 
Matamoros. 

On September 6, 1864, Col. H. M. Day, commanding, with 
about 300 men composed of the 91st Illinois, 1st Texas 
cavalry, and one-12-lb howitzer from the 1st Missouri Artil 
lery, sallied from Brazos across Boca Chica destined to 
White's ranch where, it had been reported, the Confederates 
had been herding some cattle to be delivered to the French 
Imperialists then encamped at Bagdad, at the mouth of the 
Rio Grande on the Mexican side. This force encountered at 
Palmito Hill, 12 miles from the mouth, a small detachment 
of the 33rd Texas Cavalry Confederate, under Capt. Richard 
Taylor. The Confederates were forced to retire and the 
Federals captured the cattle. Taylor fell back to Browns- 
ville. Next day Baird's regiment and Lieutenant-Colonel 
Showalter, Confederate Army consisting of some 600 men, 
departed for Palmito to recapture the cattle. 

On the sixth Gen. J. N. Cortina, commanding the liberal 
forces along the Rio Grande, made a feint to attack Bagdad 
which was garrisoned by 400 French soldiers. The French 
drove Cortina back to the Burrita Hill on the Mexican side 
nearly opposite White's Ranch, 10 miles from the mouth, and 
there Cortina's 13 officers and 290 men under Col. Miguel 
Echarzarreta crossed to the Texas side. The French Com- 
mander at Bagdad, A. Veron. at once sent his aide, Captain 
Visconti, to report the incident to Colonel Day. Day com- 
municated with Cortina and demanded that the refuges should 
turn all arms over to the U. S. authorities, agreeing to protect 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 51 

them as refugees seeking protection. Consequently, Echarzar- 
reta turned over to Day, 27 muskets, 69 calibre; 195 Enfield 
rifles, 58 calibre, and 24 Whitney muskets and various accom- 
panying munitions including a 12-pounder. 

When Showalter reappeared on the ninth near Palmito, 
Day released Cortina's men and turned over to them their 
arms so that they might assist the Federals. A battle then fol- 
lowed lasting at intervals from the afternoon of the ninth until 
the morning of the eleventh when the combined Federal and 
Mexican forces routed the Confederates who retreated to 
Brownsville. The Mexicans used a piece of artillery that 
they had brought with them. 

The Confederates captured 14 of Cortina's men in this 
battle and upon an official inquiry from the Confederate Com- 
mander, Ford, to the Federal Colonel, Day, the latter claimed 
that the Mexicans were regularly enlisted soldiers of the 
U. S. Army. 

A careful perusal of the "WAR of the REBELLION" 
records will show that the crossing by Cortina, his surrender 
to the Federal authorities, and his participation in the repulse 
of the Confederates was through preconcerted agreement. It 
was the original intention however, that Cortina should follow 
up any victory and enter Brownsville and hold it against the 
Confederates, which he. did not do. 

On September 22, 1864, Cortina, who had been in posses- 
sion of Matamoros, entered into an agreement with the Con 
federate Commander, Ford, -> allowing unrestricted passage 
between the two towns, Matamoros and Brownsville. 

On October 14, 1864, about fifty Confederates appeared off 
Boca Chica and a fight took place between them and about 
an equal number of Federals under Day. A 20-pounder used 
b^^ the Federals and the presence in the offing of several 
Federal Warships caused the Confederates to withdraw. No 
casualties. 



52 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

^ 1 n/r •• On September 26, 1864, Gen. Tomas Mejia 

General Meiia , , ^ • i- . , ^ r^^^ . , 

. . of the Imperialist army with 2,000 men, arrived 

1^-. . ^^ Matamoros, the entire populace turning out 

in an enthusiastic reception, Brig. Gen. T. F. 

Drayton, of the Confederate forces, temporarily in command, 

extending his felicitations. 

When Mejia arrived at Matamoros on September 26, 1864, 
he did not fire a shot, and 200 of Cortina's men crossed to 
Brownsville where they were well received by the Confeder- 
ates, then in command. At the time of Mejia's arrival, French 
and Mexican Imperial troops began to come in from San 
Fernando 90 miles south of Matamoros and Bagdad at the 
mouth of the Rio Grande. (Here refer to "Sheridan on the 
Rio Grande" for disposition of Mejia and the French). 

From October to January, 1865, with the exception of a 
constant guerrilla warfare carried on between the Liberals and 
Imperials on the Mexican side and the occasional firing from 
the Texas side upon steamboats en route from Bagdad to 
Matamoros, affairs on the Texas side remained at a standstill. 
Enlisted with the Imperialists were many of the Confederates, 
especially those of the Catholic faith, while the Liberals 
counted on as many of the Union sympathisers or Federal 
deserters. 

L t B t 1 ^" ^P^^^ ^' ^^^^' ^^"* ^°^^^^ ^- L^^ ^^^ 

.,-. ^ _. ., the Confederate army surrendered at Appo- 

U. S. Civil ^ „, JJ ^ U T5 -11 

Tir ^^^^ matox. The news did not reach Brownsville 
War. 1865. .-, ^^ ,0 i t • .1 1 • 

until May 18, there being no telegraph wires 

south of New Orleans. 

On May 1, 1865, the total Federal forces in Cameron 

County, Texas, under Brig. Gen. E. B. Brown, consisted 

of 1,915, as follows; of the 66th U. S, Colored Infantry, 

675; 34th Indiana Infantry, 300; 2nd Texas Cavalry (Union), 

250, of whom 50 were unmounted; and of the 46th U. S. 

Colored Infantry, 490. 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 53 

On May 11, 1865, by order of Col. Theodore H. Barrett, in 
command, Lieut. Col. David Branson left Brazos Santiago 
for Point Isabel with 250 men. A severe gale prevented the 
little steamer from proceeding to the Point, so the troops 
returned to Brazos and marched southward along the Brazos 
beach to Boca Chica, a narrow inlet from the Gulf, about 3 
miles north of the mouth of the Rio Grande. Fifty men of 
the 2nd Texas (Union), not mounted. First Lieut. Hancock 
and Second Lieut. James, joined them with 50 men and the 
300, and at 2 a. m.. May 12, surrounded White's Ranch, 
believing that a Confederate outpost of 65 men were camped 
there. 

The Federal forces hid in a thicket on the banks of the Rio 
Grande about V/i miles above White's Ranch until 8:30 a. m.. 
Ma}'- 12, when Mexican and French soldiers of the Imperial 
Army on the Mexican shore gave the alarm and warned the 
Confederates. 

The Confederates, 190 men under Capt. W. N. Robinson 
of Gidding's Battalion, immediately began an attack but were 
forced to retreat. The Federals captured three prisoners, two 
horses, four beef cattle, and ten days' rations. That afternoon 
at 3 o'clock. General Slaughter and Col. John S. (Rip) Ford, 
with about 600 men commanded by Capt. D. M. Wilson and 
a section of O. G. Jones' light artillery, arrived on the scene, 
but very little fighting was done, the Federals retiring to 
White's Ranch for the night. From White's Ranch, Colonel 
Branson sent a message to Lieutenant-Colonel Barrett, com- 
manding the post at Brazos Santiago, who at day-break of the 
thirteenth, with 200 men of the 34th Indiana Volunteer Infan- 
try appeared. The Federals succeeded in getting as far as 
Palmetto Ranch about 12 miles east of Brownsville, where 
they dug pits. Afterwards they fell back a mile and a half to 
a bluff then 11 miles from the mouth of the river but which 
has long since disappeared. 



54 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

At four p. M. the Confederates began an active advance 
and endeavored to get between the hills (a mile back from 
the river) and the mouth, to flank the Federals. They planted 
two cannon on Palmetto Hill and with these began the 
actual battle of the day. The Federals, under Captains Miller 
and Coffin and Lieutenants Foster and Mead retreated. 

At about five o'clock, the 34th Indiana broke and retreated 
at double time. The Federals lost 7 Enfield rifles and accou- 
terments and some camp and garrison equipage. They also 
lost four officers and 111 men, 30 of whom were killed and 
some 'drowned in attempting to swim the river into Mexico. 
The Federals in full retreat reached Boca Chica at eight p. m, 

* * * :ic 5|c 

On May 28, 1865, Brig. Gen. E. B. Brown started all of his 
force for Brownsville where he arrived on the morning of 
May 30, 1865, at day-light. The Confederates had left the day 
before, General Slaughter having turned their artillery over to 
the Imperialists at Matamoros. Five hundred bales of cotton 
were captured by General Brown, 'but more than twice this 
number had been crossed to Matamoros immediately preced- 
ing his arrival, but after the surrender of Lee. General 
Slaughter, who was an Imperialist sympathizer, crossed over 
to Matamoros. Colonel Ford was opposed to moving the 
artillery out of Texas. 

BAGDAD, TAMAULIPAS, MEXICO, was known as a 
settlement as far back as 1780, when the Spaniards who had 
settled along the Rio Grande first realized the beneficial 
effects of its cool saleric atmosphere. Since 1840, it had 
existed as a customshouse port of first entry for all goods 
destined to Mexico through Matamoros. But not until the 
stirring events of the American Civil War and the French 
Invasion did it derive any importance. During 1862, '63, '64, 
'65, and '66 it was at its highest mark. As many as 15,000 per- 
sons inhabited its sandy townsite, dwelling in houses of every 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 55 

description and with a conglomerate citizenship. From 200 
to 300 vessels ranging in size from a 20-ton schooner to a 
2,000-ton steamship were constantly anchored three or four 
miles from its beach, while hundreds of laborers engaged as 
lightermen in bringing merchandize across the bar from the 
Gulf to the harbor in the river, enlivened the town. 

Directly across from Bagdad, on the Texas side of the Rio 
Grande, nestled in the sandhills the little town of Clarksville, 
another war-time village, but with not more than 500 perma- 
nent inhabitants. Sandhills were the predominating feature 
of Clarksville, while Bagdad, on the Mexican side, consisted of 
a flat sandy, marshy approach running back from the river to 
the town about 500 yards. 

Through the courtesy of the Mexican officials, the Ameri- 
can steamboats plying the Rio Grande were permitted to be 
hauled out for repairs on this piarshy fiat, and the American 
carpenters and workmen were permitted to cross the river 
at will. 

Before Mejia's entry into Matamoros, Cortina, Escobedo 
and Canales besieged Matamoros and patrolled the entire 
river front on the Mexican side up to within some six miles of 
Bagdad, where the French troops were encamped and where 
the French men-of-war were arriving almost weekly. 

During August, 1865, Admiral Bosse, commanding the 
French squadron, sent to the mouth of the Rio Grande, the 
ships LE DARIEN, LE COLBERT, and LA DROME, he, in 
person, afterwards coming on the LA BELLONE. On the 
twenty-second. of August, 1865, the French landed four hun- 
dred men and took possession of Bagdad, under Commander 
Veron. The Admiral believed that his force was insufficient 
to take Matamoros from Cortina who was there with 400 
infantry, 500 cavalry, and 12 cannon; and as he was without 
information as to Mejia, concluded merely to blockade the 
mouth of the river and force back up the river some smaller 



56 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

vessels of the enemy which were tied along the banks to the 
mouth. 

Admiral Dupin on August 12, 1865, moved from Tampico 
towards Victoria. He had hung five Republican (liberal) 
guerrillas to the lamp posts at Tampico, and three at Vic- 
toria, Mexico. He remained at Victoria a short time and 
then moved towards Matamoros but got no further than San 
Fernando from whence he retraced his march to Victoria. 
Dupin was named as provisional Governor of Tamaulipas at 
Victoria, Mexico, and while there, caused all the records per- 
taining to the State archive to be destroyed. 

In the latter part of December, 1865, Admiral de la Bedo- 
liere (in 1913 ranking admiral in the French Navy) arrived 
off Bagdad in the warship "TISIPHONE," bringing ammuni- 
tions, arms, food, and French reenforcements. 

About August, 1865, the Imperialists purchased two river 
packets, the Antonia and the Eujenia for use between Mata- 
moros and the mouth of the river. These boats were fired on 
from the American side on several occasions by Mexicans and 
Americans in sympathy with the Liberal cause. One of these 
occasions was on November 7, 1865, when at a place on the 
Mexican side of the river, called Ranchita, about 16 miles east 
of Matamoros, the Antonia, Anderson commanding, having 
aboard a detachment of French Marines and a battery of 
artillery, was fired on by Liberals on the Mexican side. These 
attackers were dispersed by a well-directed fire which dis- 
mounted one of the Liberal's guns. 

However, at a point seven miles east of Matamoros the 
Antonia run aground. Americans and Mexicans from the 
Texas side began a fierce fire upon' her wounding two of the 
Marines, one seriously. The Eujenia rushed to her rescue and 
soon brought her to the boat landing on the Mexican side, 
about a half mile south from the Fort Brown flag-staff. 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 57 

During the first days of January, 1866, the French men-of- 
war referred to had already landed some provisions and quite 
a number of French marines and Austrian soldiers. The 
Antotiia had transported a number of these to Matamoros, 
being fired on in almost every instance. 

The Liberals having received information of the arrival of 
the men-of-war, prepared to surprise Bagdad and to prevent 
the landing of the supplies and reenforcements. Escobedo 
ordered Cortina to make some demonstrations against Mata- 
moros in order to hold Mejia there in check. Cortina 
encircled Matamoros and in person came over to Brownsville 
and interviewed the Federal Commander, requesting that the 
latter should assist the Liberals by sending a force of negroes 
into Bagdad to head ofl the French who already had landed 
some 80 men, those aboard the steamboat Antonia en route 
to Matamoros. 

_. - , Colonel Crawford, then mustered out of the service, 
_ ., in charge of some three hundred negroes who like- 
wise had been mustered out, crossed the Rio Grande 
into Bagdad at 3 o'clock on the morning of January 6, 1866, 
while Col. Adolfo Garza and Maj. Enrique Mejia of General 
Escobedo's general stafif attacked the town from the east and 
south. The negroes quickly overpowered the few Imperial- 
ist soldiers in charge of Bagdad and then, having partaken 
of the native drink, Mescal, went wild and started on an 
expedition of pillage, murder, and rapine. They looted the 
principal warehouses and moved their pillage to the Texas 
side. Escobedo had not counted on such a result of his 
effort to obtain assistance. He immediately rushed to Bag- 
dad with his troops but arrived just in time to see the 
negroes with their loot embarking for Texas. 

8 Americans were killed in this affair, including 2 respect- 
able American ladies, while about ten Mexicans were killed. 



58 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

A petition was immediately forwarded to Washington by 
the loyal imperialists of Matamoros, protesting against the 
outrage. A Commission was appointed to take evidence 
to fix the responsibility. Its decision was that as the con- 
stituted Mexican authorities had called upon the Americans 
to invade their territory to render them assistance, no 
damages could be recovered. General Sheridan, through 
correspondence, followed Colonel Crawford as far as Cuba 
but was never able to intercept him and bring him to trial 
for his part in the affair. 

* ^ ^ * * 

Gen. Godfrey Weitzels arrived at Brazos de Santiago 
on June 22, 1865, and two days later moved to White's 
Ranch with four brigades. As soon as General Weitzel, in 
command of the Federals then at Brownsville, heard of the 
raid he sent 300 men to suppress the disorder, but many of 
these united with the invaders and assisted them in disposing 
of their stolen goods. It was M. Montholon, French Min- 
ister, who brought the matter to the attention of Minister 
Hunter through whom the Commission was appointed, as 
above referred to. 

Major-General Lew Wallace, U. S. Army, author of 
Ben Hur, arrived in Brownsville on March 15, 1865, and at 
once communicated with Gen. J. E. Slaughter and Col. 
John S. Ford relative to a cessation of hostilities, soliciting 
their aid in offering terms to Gen. Kirby Smith. Colonel 
Ford, in temporary command during the absence of Slaughter, 
stated that it would be impossible for him to comply with 
the request, but that he would forward the request to the 
Brigadier commanding. In his letter Ford frankly stated, 
"You do not mistake when you suppose me willing to make 
any sacrifice short of honor to restore peace." And in a 
letter of date March 26, 1865, referring to the same subject, 
Ford said; "We are at all times. General, ready to soften 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 59 

the asperities of the war by an interchange of the courtesies 
which should exist between all parties prosecuting civilized 
warfare." Later, on March 30, 1865, General Wallace 
addressed Maj.-Gen. John G. Walker C. S. Army, at Houston, 
referring to his communications which had been forwarded 
by Colonel Ford. General Walker refused to treat on the 
subject. From a careful study of the communications passing 
between General Wallace, Gen. U. S. Grant, Gen. E. Kirby 
Smith and John Slidell, Commissioner to Paris, France, the 
fears entertained by the Northern leaders of a Confederate 
intrigue with France and Mexico, were well founded. 

See reference to Colonization of Confederate leaders at Cordova, 
Mexico. 



CHAPTER VII 

g, . , On May 17, 1865, Gen. U. S. Grant ordered 

p. P , Maj.-Gen, Phil H. Sheridan to proceed from 
Washington to Fort Brown, Texas, informing 
him that he would place at his command 25,000 men under 
Maj.-Gen, J. J. Reynolds, being the 4th Army Corps then at 
Nashville, Tenn., and the 25th Army Corps then at City Point, 
Va. The ostensible purpose of this move was to restore order 
in Texas and to prevent a renewal of hostilities by the Con- 
federate, Gen. Kirby Smith. The real purpose was to discour- 
age any efforts of the Confederates to obtain aid from the 
Imperialists then operating in Mexico under Maximilian, 
Grant believing that the efforts to put down secession would 
never be complete until the French and Austrian invaders of 
Mexico were compelled to quit Mexico. 

Generals Price, Magruder, Sterling Price, Maury, Governor 
Harris of Tennessee, and others equally as prominent in 
Confederate Military circles already were proceeding to Cor- 
doba, Mexico, not far from Vera Cruz where a great coloniza- 
tion scheme was being organized. Grant believed that Maxi- 
milian desired these sturdy veterans' of the American Civil 
War to support him on his throne, and that in order to win 
their assistance he might go as far as to back them up in 
a renewal of the struggle in the United States. 

Gen. E. B. Brown, U. S. Volunteers, arrived at Brownsville, 
May 30, 1865. On June 6 to 9, 1865,. Gen. Frederick Steele 
arrived with the bulk of the 25th Army Corps. Gen. Phil 
Sheridan arrived on June 23, 1865. 

Upon his arrival at Brazos de Santiago, Sheridan at once 
became acquainted with the difficulties of landing troops at 
the mouth of the Rio Grande, where Bagdad and Clarks- 
ville, Texas, at that time were flourishing little war villages, 
where the average depth of water on the bar was but 2^ 
feet and that Brazos was the only feasible point, the water 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 6i 

on the bar there being on an average from 9 to 11 feet. So, 
one of his first acts was to build a railroad from Brazos 
along the island 18 miles west and southwest to a point on 
the river then known as WHITE'S RANCH, long since 
washed away by the river encroachments. 

The railroad was duly operated and remained until several 
years after the close of the war, when it was torn up, but 
its roadbed still remains intact from the nearest approach 
to the site of White's Ranch down to Boca Ghica, where 
the bridge piling still stands. 

As has been stated in the preceding chapter, General 
Mejia arrived at Matamoros during September, 1864. From 
within a month after his arrival there, the guerrilla warfare 
began and hardl}^ a day passed but that from 1 to 15 men 
were killed, either of the besieged or the besiegers. Among 
some of the killed and wounded who were affiliated with the 
Imperialists were such as J. D. McCaskill, Jacob Sneider, a 
16-year old youth, P. G. Hammond. And some of these men 
were led by Lieutenant Sullivan, Major Gerard, Captain 
Norris, and J. P. St. Clair. And, among the liberals we find 
such names as Birch, Gholson, McKinney, Miller, Granger. 
On several times during the siege which lasted until June, 1866, 
the besiegers bombarded Matamoros, and on numerous occa- 
sions the shells were embedded in the brick or abode walls of 
the City. 

On June 8, 1866, two battalions of the foreign legion, 
Belgians and Mexicans, a number of cavalry, and six pieces 
of artillery left Monterrey en route to Matamoros, Tamaulipas. 
They marched along three parallel roads. Escobedo learned 
that the object of the Imperialists was to attack and to take 
possession of the frontier towns from Mier to Matamoros. 

When Escobedo ascertained that the most important body 

Jiad arrived at Cerralvo, about 140 miles west from Matamoros, 

he placed 600 cavalry in a position where the Imperialists 



62 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

might see them and be led to believe that they would attack 
Cerralvo. Then, in two days, with the greater number of his 
troops he marched 70 miles to Derramaderos near Camargo 
where the Imperialists were camped with a large convoy 
which had marched from Matamoros destined to Monterrey, 
and whence he might observe their march and attack them at 
the place where the least water might be found, because in 
that locality one might not exist many hours without water. 
The convoy consisted of 200 wagons escorted by 1,000 Mexi- 
cans, 328 Austrians, and two cannon, all under the Imperialist 
General, Olvera. On the fourteenth of June, the convoy was 
seen approaching the Santa Gertrudis hills not far from 
Camargo, at which place Escobedo had entrenched his army. 
The convoy advanced unconscious of any contemplated 
ambuscade. Escobedo had ordered complete silence, but one 
of the impatient subaltern chiefs sallied out to provoke the 
enemy, who, observing the danger sent forward a column of 
cavalry. On the morning of the fifteenth Olvera had placed 
his wagons so as to serve as a barricade, also placing his 
troops in battle formation and planting the two cannon. 

Not seeing the Liberals, as they had hidden in the draws 
surrounding the hills, Olvera advanced along the road, dis- 
charging at random to ascertain if the Liberals possessed any 
cannon. Escobedo's line was protected by four columns of 
infantry, two of cavalry, and the reserve also infantry. His 
principal ofificers were Col. Alonso Flores, Colonel Caceres, 
Col. Miguel Palacios, Lieut. "Col. Emilio Mayer, Col. Narciso 
Davila, Col. Francisco Naranjo, Col. Adolfo Garza, Gen. 
Servando Canales, Col. Julian Cerda, Col. Joaquin Garza Leal, 
Lieut. Col. Higinio Villareal, Lieut. Col. Juan N. Saenz, Col. 
Salvador de la Cabada, Lieut. Col. Vicente Mariscal, Major 
Gen. Sostenes Rocha, Brig. Gen. Geronimo Trevino. The 
entire Liberal army charged simultaneously and the Imperial- 
ists broke and column by column surrendered, the Austrians 



64 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

alone making a stand. Olvera with about 100 horsemen and 
some officers barely escaped. It resulted in a complete rout, 
Escobedo capturing the entire convoy in which a great amount 
of money was being transported to the interior. The Liberals 
lost 155 killed and 78 wounded. The Imperial loss was 251 
Mexicans killed, and 145 Austrians killed; 121 Mexicans and 
45 Austrians wounded; 858 Mexicans and 143 Austrian pris- 
oners. Many of the Austrians were executed. 

The Imperialists claimed that the success of the Liberals 
in the battle of Santa Gertrudis was due to the fact that from 
1,200 to 1,500 Americans assisted Escobedo. The Liberals 
denied this, asserting that there were not more than three, 
and countercharging that the Imperialists had enlisted two 
companies of Confederates, The author personally knew of 
more than fifty Americans who handled the Liberal artillery 
at Santa Gertrudis. 

After the battle of Santa Gertrudis, the Imperialist Gen- 
eral, de Tuce, learning that the Liberals were concentrating 
at Camargo, marched to Mier where he arrived on the seven- 
teenth of June. But, learning there of the defeat and routing 
of Olvera and his army, and the number of deserters increasing 
daily, he retreated to Monterrey, where he arrived on the 
twenty-eighth. 

The Imperialists were no longer able to maintain them- 
selves in Matamoros, so Mejia quickly capitulated to General 
Carvajal, named governor and military commander of Tamau- 
lipas, who was at the time a refugee in Brownsville with 
money and arms to continue the campaign. Mejia evacuated 
Matamoros on June 23, 1866, leaving there 43 pieces of 
artillery. The balance of his army were embarked via the 
mouth of the Rio Grande to Vera Cruz. 

In August, 1866, Carvajal was deposed and Gen. Servando 
Canales was proclaimed as governor of Tamaulipas. On the 
twenty-first of the same month Gen. Juan N. Cortina, then at 



66 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

Camargo, proclaimed himself as governor and started to 
Matamoros. In the meantime President pro-tem Juarez had 
proclaimed Gen, Santiago Tapia as governor, so Cortina did 
not advance his own claims but congratulated Tapia. Canales, 
however, who had been acting with Carvajal, declared for 
Gonzalez Ortega, refused to recognize Tapia and prohibited 
him from entering Matamoros. As soon as Juarez received 
information of the deflection of Canales, he ordered Escobedo, 
who had taken possession of Monterrey, to advance on Mata- 
moros and subjugate Canales. 

On November 11, 1866, Escobedo with 1,500 men arrived 
at the outskirts of Matamoros, reenforcing the besiegers. He 
at once communicated with his life-long friend and comrade 
in arms, Canales, from whom, to his surprise, he learned that 
Canales had enlisted in Ortega's behalf. Upon the refusal 
of Canales to surrender the town, Escobedo began a general 
assault. In the meantime, Gen. Thomas L. Sedgwick, in 
temporary command at Brownsville, realizing the disastrous 
effect which might result to the Mexican cause at the very 
time that their entire cooperation was necessary to drive 
out the French and Austrian invaders, and possibly bearing 
in mind the real intent and purpose of the American govern- 
ment in placing so many troops along the border, quietly 
threw a pontoon bridge across the Rio Grande and, under 
the pretext that his presence in Matamoros with U. S. troops 
was necessary to protect foreigners and their property, crossed 
over to Matamoros. Escobedo, ignoring the true pur- 
pose of the American invasion, protested against Sedgwick's 
occupation. Sedgwick refused to evacuate unless assured of 
the protection of all foreigners. So, on the morning of 
November 27, 1866, one of the most sanguinary battles was 
fought in Matamoros between the rival Mexican factions, 
the Americans remaining inactive in a neutral zone upon 
which even Escobedo did not fire. Escobedo was repulsed 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 6 



with heavy losses. Canales in reality surrendered the plaza 
to Sedgwick, but on the night of November 30 communi- 
cated with Escobedo offering to join forces to repel the 
American invaders. Then Escobedo, having accepted Cana- 
les* proposition, demanded that Sedgwick evacuate. Sedg- 
wick had entered Matamoros on November 23, 1866, with 
two companies of cavalry, two companies of infantry, and 
four cannon. On the twenty-seventh he surrounded the block 
upon which the American consulate was located. After the 
demand by Escobedo that he should evacuate, realizing that 
the two Mexican factions had united, that firing had ceased, 
and that there would no longer be danger of injury to for- 
eigners or their properties, on December 1, 1866, he retired 
to Fort Brown, immediately dismantling the pontoon bridge. 
***** 

The term of office of President Juarez expired December 
31, 1865, but to meet existing exigencies he proclaimed 
himself in office thereafter. Gen. Gonzales Ortega, then 
president of the Supreme Court of Mexico, was, by virtue 
of the Mexican Constitution, the person eligible for the 
presidency, but in the interest of the Imperialists had absented 
himself from Mexico. He remained in New Orleans 
and visited many places in the United States, recruiting 
refugee Mexicans and many Americans, and finally sailed 
for Brazos de Santiago, intending to cross into Mexico and 
assert his claims with arms. Upon his arrival at Brazos on 
November 3, 1866, he was arrested by Capt. J. Paulson of the 
U. S. Army and was detained by General Sedgwick until 
Escobedo had succeeded in establishing order, when he 
was released. 

Sheridan, in the meantime, between the date of his 
arrival at Brownsville in June, 1865, and the final termination 
of the Imperialistic menace in Mexico, actively prepared the 
American troops, threatening an invasion of Mexico for 



68 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

the purpose of driving out the French. He organized a great 
number at San Antonio, and then, with a regiment of cav- 
alry under General Merritt, proceeded to Fort Duncan near 
Eagle Pass, got into communication with Juarez, and 
informed the latter that he was prepared to invade. The 
reports circulated and the demonstrations made by the Ameri- 
can troops finally discouraged the Imperialists so that 
the French and Austrians withdrew from the northern 
border into the interior. Then came the first sign of the 
tottering of the Maximilian empire, and finally the battle 
at Queretaro in May, 1867, Maximilian's capture and execution 
at the Hill of the Bells on the nineteenth day of June, 
1867. Great efforts were made by this government through 
Sheridan to save Maximilian's life, Serg. Richard White, 
one of Sheridan's scouts, conveying a plea for mercy signed 
by Secretary Seward, all the way from Tampico overland 
to Queretaro, but to no avail, 

***** 

During the year 1867, a band of Mexicans accompanied 
by one or two foreigners, late one evening dashed into 
Clarksville, Texas, at the mouth of the Rio Grande. They 
killed three persons, among them William Phelps and 
Hammond, U. S. Customs inspectors, wounded several others 
and succeeded in carrying off considerable plunder. They 
fled to the Mexican side. Their exact identity was never 
discovered. 



CHAPTER VIII 

-, . In 1856, the Congress of Mexico called and held 

Mexican . . , ... . 

_ ^ a constitutional convention at which, among other 

radical reforms 'was one divorcing the State from 

the Church. 

On March 11, 1857, the Liberal constitution was pro- 
posed but was suspended on December 1. Ygnacio Comonfort 
at once became a dictator. The reaction against the reform 
laws was backed by the church, most of the army, and 
many of the conservatives. But Benito Juarez, one of the 
judges of the Supreme Court, at the head of a party of 
advanced liberals opposed the reaction. 

In 1858, Comonfort was deposed by Zuloaga who 
abdicated in favor of Miramon, general of the Conservative 
forces. Miramon refused and insisted on Zuloaga remain- 
ing. In 1859, the U. S. envoy at Vera Cruz acknowledged 
Juarez as the head of Mexican affairs. 

During 1860, the Liberals triumphed, and in 1861 Juarez 
entered Mexico City and immediately upon assuming the 
chair, introduced many radical reforms, among others 
being: declaring marriage to be a civil contract; celibacy and 
ecclesiastical tribunals suppressed; confiscation of church 
property valued at about $400,000,000.00 and more than a 
third of the real estate; and the final separation of the 
Church from the State, and postponing payment of the 
National debt. 

At once Spain, France, and England urged claims due 
for losses occasioned by their subjects through the reform 
laws. During December, 1861, the three allies mentioned 
occupied the Port of Vera Cruz. A satisfactory settlement 
being made, Spain and England withdrew their vessels; but 
France and Louis Napoleon decided to continue the war, 
and in consequence did not reembark her troops; France 
declared war in 1862, placed Maximilian on the throne as 




PORFIRIO DIAZ 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley yi 

emperor, and drove Juarez and his adherents to the north- 
ern states of the Republic of Mexico. 

Maximilian, archduke of Austria (Ferdinand Maximilian 
Joseph) and emperor of Mexico, in 1863, at the instance of 
Napoleon III, accepted the crown as emperor of Mexico 
at the solicitation of many Mexican notables. He landed at 
Vera Cruz on May 28, 1864. He was captured May 16, 
1867, while trying to escape from Queretaro, was court- 
martialed, condemned to death, and executed by shooting 
on June 19, 1867, His body was transported to Vienna 
where it was buried in the imperial vault a year after his 
death. 

After a very spirited resistance, Juarez and the liberals, 
as has been shown elsewhere herein, succeeded. 

The French troops which arrived in Mexico on the fifth 
day of June, 1863, withdrew in February, 1867. 

After the death of Maximilian, in August, 1867, Juarez 
was again elected president. / The characteristic spirit of 
revolt, predominant among the Mexicans, caused ceaseless 
insurrections, but Juarez reigned until July 18, 1872, when 
he died in Mexico City from a stroke of apoplexy. 

Sebastian Lerdo de Tejada, secretary of Juarez immedi- 
ately assumed the reigns of government in Mexico and 
remained in power for four years, until succeeded by Gen. 
Porfirio Diaz. 

p - . This, the most illustrious of all Mexicans, was born 
p.. September 15, 1830, in Oaxaca, IMexico, a town about 

150 miles southeast from Mexico City. He had 
studied law, but in 1854 took part in the revolutions, and like- 
wise afterwards participated in the three-years' "War of 
Reform." In 1863 he was appointed commander of the Mexi- 
can armies and until Maximilian's downfall and execution 
in 1867, was leader of the Republican or Liberal party. 



yi A Brief History of the Lozver Rio Grande Valley 

While Lerdo de Tejada was in the chair, Diaz started 
a revolt against him and forced him to flee from Mexico. 
Iglesias was named president pro-tem. 

On April 2, 1876, "Don Porfirio," as the entire Mexican 
population was wont to call him, with a handful of follow- 
ers who had been with him at Brownsville, Texas, for 
nearly a month prior thereto, crossed the Rio Grande into 
Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, at a point just east of the 
latter city. It had been arranged that the Mexican garrison 
should renounce its allegiance to the Tejada government 
and should at once join hands with Don Porfirio. There 
were about one thousand of the National Guard under 
Gen. B*altazar Fuentes Farias, and four hundred regulars 
under Col. Leonides Cristo, in charge of .the garrison. 
Fuentes Farias immediately pronounced in favor of Diaz 
but about a hundred of the regulars, commanded by Col. 
Cipriano Villanueva resisted. Several were killed on both 
sides, but finally the entire garrison pronounced for Diaz, who 
was soon after proclaimed as President of the Republic. 

Don Porfirio ruled until 1880 when he was succeeded by 
Gen. Manuel Gonzalez who ruled for four years. In 1884, 
Don Porfirio was reelected and from that time until 1911, 
27 years, he ruled Mexico with great wisdom, foresight, and 
patriotism.^ 

At the beginning of his administration he caused to be 
executed all those who in any manner attempted to foment 

^During the year 1890, one Catarina Garza, at one time a citizen of 
Brownsville and afterwards of Matamoros. Mexico, aggrieved over some 
alleged indignity suffered at the hands of his countrymen, headed a revolt 
against the Diaz Government in Mexico. He soon gathered about him quite 
a number of anti-Diaz followers and on the day of 1890, crossed 

from the Texas side at a point in Zapata County, Texas, to the Mexican 
side where he raided the place called SAN YGNACIO. This he razed to 
the ground killing a number of its inhabitants. Later Garza recrossed into 
Texas and with his men had several encounters with American soldiers 
who had been sent out to apprehend him. In one of these encounters 
an American soldier was killed and several wounded, a number of Mexicans 
being killed by the soldiers. 

Garza evaded capture and sailed for Central America where he was 
afterwards killed in a battle at Boca del Toro." 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 73 - 

an uprising, and even went to the extent of imprisoning 
those who criticised his administration. But, experience had 
taught that there was but one way to rule a people of 
whom 80% were ignorant, uneducated barbarians, and that 
was WITH THE IRON HAND. Under him the country 
soon took a place among the nations of the world. Every 
branch of industry was stimulated. The army was brought 
up to a high standard of patriotism so that when, during 
his old age when his enemies sought to depose him, the 
entire army stood loyal to him preferring death to dis- 
honor. He granted concessions to foreign capital to build 
up railroads and kindred institutions of progress, just as 
the State of Texas had done and was doing at t' 
time. The indebtedness of the Nation was reduced to a 
minimum. Religious worship was tolerated by any creed 
or sect, though restricted in accordance with the reform 
laws. 

In fact, during the 31 years in which Don Porfirio 
administered the affairs of the Republic, every change which 
took place, was destined to the uplifting of his people. 

As his age increased and he was proportionately incapaci- 
tated to attend to minor details, a horde of political and finan- 
cial leeches thrived under him. These men, many called 
Cientificos, operating with high officials, withheld from Don 
Porfirio many subjects of great import, and through a con- 
certed scheme of grafting were rapidly crushing out the lower 
or Indian classes and acquiring all real estate or other things 
worthy of their effort. They despoiled everything upon which 
their hands touched. They concentrated all power in a few 
of the higher class, so that, through their advice and counsel, 
Don Porfirio unknowingly became a party to the system of 
thieving. 

During the last years of his life, considerably interested 
in the future of his beloved country and desirous to intrust 



74 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

the administration to one who might carry out his carefully- 
studied plans, Don Porfirio attempted to select his successor 
from the many eminent citizens of his acquaintance. With 
that purpose in view, he brought to his cabinet Bernardo 
Reyes, Ramon Corral, and one or two others who had distin- 
guished themselves. 

The new element in Mexican politics, with no appreciation 
of the past and practically ignorant of the struggles which 
had occurred in bringing the Republic to its present state 
long ago tired of the dictatorship which Don Porfirio 
necessarily exercised, resented his efforts to name a suc- 
cessor. Insignificant mobs formed in different parts of the 
republic and voiced their opposition. The students of the 
University of Guadalajara, State of Jalisco, promenaded the 
streets placarding against Corral. Diaz entertained a dele- 
gation of these and summarily dismissed them from .the 
University. At Monterrey the rabble marched through the 
streets proclaiming Reyes to be a fit successor. Reyes had 
been tried and apparently found wanting. 

Among those who opposed Don Porfirio's dictatorship 
was Francisco Madero, a highly educated young Mexican 
gentleman who had travelled extensively. He openly 
opposed Diaz. He proclaimed "Mexico for the Mexicans" 
and advocated laws which would restrict foreign acquisition 
of properties in the Republic. A street riot took place in 
Monterrey which was laid at Madero's door. He remained 
secluded for a while, but finally was arrested and hastened 
to the penitentiary at San Luis Potosi where he remained 
incarcerated for some months. Escaping, he made his 
way in disguise to Texas, and from there at once started 
a revolution against Don Porfirio. 

During the latter part of 1910, the anniversary of Mexico's 
independence, the first battles between the Federals and 
Madero's army took place. 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 75 

During March, 1911, President W. H. Taft ordered the 
mobilization of 25,000 U. S. troops along the border, and 
in pursuance with that order Fort Sam Houston, Bay City, 
and Galveston were garrisoned by the army. 

On May 10, 1911, Cindad Juarez, an important city on the 
Mexican banks of the Rio Grande opposite to El Paso, 
surrendered to the Maderistas, General Navarro, the Fed- 
eral chief, a veteran of many wars under Don Porfirio, being 
made captive. Immediately an armistice was declared and 
an agreement entered into by which Don Porfirio should" 
resign and turn the chair over to a successor to be selected 
by Madero and supposedly neutral Mexicans of renown. 

On May 22, 1911, the Maderista army entered Torreon, 
some distance from the Texas border, and assassinated two 
or three hundred Chinese. 

On May 25, 1911, Don Porfirio Diaz, who had then 
served 31 years as the president of Mexico, resigned. He 
left Mexico City at once, and on the twenty-sixth of May 
sailed for France where he died on July 2, 1915. 

Immediately upon the resignation of Diaz, and on the 
vei^ day when he departed from Vera Cruz, May 26, 1911, 
Francisco de la Barra was agreed upon and inaugurated as 
provisional president of the Mexican Republic. Not long 
afterwards, Francisco Madero entered Mexico, and in the 
elections which took place during October, 1911, was elected 
president of the Republic. He was inaugurated on Novem- 
ber 6, 1911. 

During the year 1912, Pascual Orosco, a former 
Maderista, launched a counter revolution, and later Felix 
Diaz, a nephew of Don Porfirio, began another. Orosco 
was soon crushed and sought refuge in Texas. Felix Diaz 
was captured at Vera Cruz on October 23, 1912, and from 
there was at once transported to the City of Mexico where 
he was held a captive until February 9, 1913. 



76 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

Gen. Bernardo Reyes, for many years governor of the 
State of Nuevo Leon, with headquarters .at Monterrey, had 
likewise been an aspirant for presidential honors. He was 
sent on a diplomatic matter to Europe before Don Porfirio's 
abdication. Upon his return, Madero having conquered, 
Reyes moved to San Antonio, Texas. He started from San 
Antonio sometime in February, 1912, and crossed the Rio 
Grande between Laredo and Matamoros. Failing of support 
by those on whom he had relied, he was captured on Feb- 
ruary 18, 1912, and taken to Mexico City where he was 
incarcerated and held captive until February 9, 1913. 



CHAPTER IX 

On February 9, 1913, the students at the Chapultepec 
Military Academy, rushed through the streets of Mexico 
City, headed by Mondragon, an erstwhile professor in the 
Military school and a man of some note as a soldier. They 
liberated Felix Diaz and Bernardo Reyes and then attacked 
the National Palace in which Madero was housed. Through 
treachery, Madero was taken captive, Bernardo Reyes being 
killed in one of the melees. On the nineteenth. Gen. Victoriano 
Huerta, an old comrade of Gen. Porfirio Diaz, was pro- 
claimed president of the Republic. On the twenty-second, 
Madero and Pino Suarez, one of his cabinet officers, were 
assassinated while being taken, as alleged, to the penitentiary 
for safe-keeping. 

Immediately the fire of revolt broke out, the reformers 
anticipating a return to the much hated system of spoils 
which the party called Cientificos had so successfully main- 
tained during Diaz' later days. 

Gen. Venustiano Carranza, at one time the governor 
of the State of Coahuila, immediately called to arms all 
those who might believe in a pure constitution and in the 
reforms as set out by Juarez. His party assumed the name 
CONSTITUTIONALISTS. Carranza went to Piedras 
Negras (called Porfirio Diaz) whence he engineered his 
campaign. 

On February 16, 1913, the Sunday following the revolt 
against Madero in the City of Mexico, the garrison of regu- 
lars at H. Matamoros renounced its allegiance to M'adero, 
and the partisans of Diaz immediately assumed the reigns 
of government of that city, pronouncing for Gen. Felix Diaz. 
At once, those who had been outspoken Maderistas were 
imprisoned. Four of the prominent youths of the City 
were arrested and conducted as prisoners to Mexico City to be 
tried for treason. Gen. Samuel Garcia Cuellar, a most dis- 



78 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

tinguished gentleman, a native of Matamoros, interceded 
and having cautioned them to keep out of politics, they were 
released and allowed to return home. 

On February 20, 1913, the Matamoros revolters realizing 
that funds must be available to pay off the troops became 
restless and exacting. Major Estevan Ramos and Maj. Fran- 
cisco Alvarez, in command, appealed to the Citizens of 
Matamoros for loans, alleging that so soon as a fixed head 
of the government should give them recognition any such 
loan would be returned. Up to that time' matters in Mexico 
City had been quite turbulent and there was no recognized 
head other than the president himself, Francisco Madero. 

Among others. Major Ramos appealed to an American 
house at Matamoros, asserting that unless it and others 
would extend the courtesy of making the loan, it would be 
necessary to send the cavalry out of town to pasturage and to 
allow the others of his force to go uncontrolled, and that 
he feared in such an event there might be some looting. The 
loan was not a demand, simply a request. 

During the; afternoon of February 24, 1913, the County 
Judge and Sheriff of Cameron County, Texas, in which 
Brownsville is situated, communicated to Gov. Oscar B. 
Colquitt that the American Consul at Matamoros had 
appealed to them for aid, alleging that the Mexicans were 
about to start on a reign of pillage. This the Consul later 
denied. However, on the morning of February 25, 1913, a 
telegram was received from Governor Colquitt stating that 
units of the State Militia were then entraining and would 
arrive at Brownsville during that day. He threatened an inva- 
sion of Mexico should any American subject be molested by 
the revolters. At about 6 o'clock a. m. on February 26, 1913, 
Company C, 3rd Texas Infantry from Corpus Christi, Texas; 
Company A, 3rd Texas Infantry, and Company A, Texas 
State Cavalry, from Houston, Texas, and Company C, Texas 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 79 

State Cavalry from Austin, Texas, arrived at Brownsville. On 
the same day Company M, 14th U. S. Cavalry, Capt. Kirby 
Walker in command, and Captain Sanders, and eight State 
Texas Rangers arrived. 

The four Texas companies remained until the early morn- 
ing of July 28, 1913, when they returned to their homes. 
***** 

- Early in April, Lucio Blanco and a party of 

^ J followers claiming to be of the reform or Con- 

-_ stitutionalist party, traversed the State of 

Matamorcs ,, ^ jr. i- ux 1 • u 

Nuevo Leon, and after a slight skirmish near 

Herrerras, about 130 miles northwest from Matamoros on the 
Mexican National Railway, headed south, appearing near 
Sota la Marina about a week later. There he recruited and 
marched to San Fernando, 90 miles south from Matamoros. 
On April 22, he advanced and took possession of the Solda- 
dito ranch, about 75 miles south from Matamoros, where he 
succeeded in taking some five or six hundred horses which the 
Federal Government had been concentrating for shipment. 
He then advanced north, and on the ninth day of May, 1913, 
after a^ short but decisive battle with the small Federal garri- 
son at Reynosa, 58 miles west from Matamoros, captured 
the town, sustaining but a slight loss in killed and wounded. 
The Federals lost 21 killed and those who did not succeed in 
crossing the Rio Grande to the Texas side were taken pris- 
oners. 

On May 10, Blanco appeared at Rio Bravo, now called 
Colombres, 40 miles west from Matamoros on the National 
railroad. There he executed twelve of his Federal prisoners 
who, it is alleged, refused to join his army. He also executed 
an American citizen, Juan Alamia, who had served with 
Roosevelt's Rough Riders in the Cuban campaign in 1898. 
As soon as news was received at Matamoros that Blanco had 
taken Reynosa, the inhabitants of Matamoros began to cross 



8o A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

to the Texas side in great numbers, only the Federal garrison 
with a handful of volunteers remaining to defend the place. 

During the latter part of May, 1913, General James Parker 
arrived from San Antonio. 

Blanco remained at Colombres (Rio Bravo) forty miles 
west of Matamoros, until late in May, when he began an 
advance on Matamoros. He camped at Las Rucias, a ranch 
about five miles west of Matamoros, concentrating his forces, 
and on the morning of June 3, 1913, assailed that city. On 
the morning of the fourth, after a very fierce battle, he cap- 
tured the city. At 6 o'clock that morning he executed some 
thirty prisoners, defenders of Matamoros, among them being 
eight or nine young boys between the ages of 14 and 16. 
Blanco claimed that these prisoners had raised the flag of 
truce and had violated it by firing on his men when they had 
approached. 

Blanco at once organized an efficient force of intelligent 
office men and began an active campaign looking to the 
upbuilding of the cause of constitutionalism. He exacted a 
tribute in the nature of an export tax on thousands of cattle 
which were shipped into Texas by the owners, through com- 
pulsion or fear of loss. He forced others to sell or ship their 
cattle so that he might avail himself of this export tax. He 
exacted heavy tribute in the way of ransoms and forced 
loans, and soon had acquired quite a fund with which, it 
might be said, the real sinews of war were supplied. 

As soon as Blanco understood that the attitude of the 
American government under the Administration then in 
power would be a change from all precedents, that dollar 
diplomacy, as it was termed and had been declared by the 
Secretary of State, should not predominate, and that the gen- 
eral policy would be one of surrender, one of "peace at any 
price," his Chief of Staff, Francisco Mujica, a shrewd states- 
man and scholar, exercising the license thus granted by the 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 81 

American government, began a series of reprisals, as he was 
accustomed to describe them. He directed his shafts of 
venom and exaction of tribute against all foreigners. Ridicu- 
lous charges were fabricated against those who were pos- 
sessed of any capital and a special feature of his administra- 
tion was the confiscation of the properties of these foreigners. 
Under the pretext that the State and Federal taxes had not 
been paid by one American merchant, a sum not exceeding 
one hundred and fifty dollars, U. S. currency, he entered into 
and looted the American store of more than $100,000, U. S. 
currency value. At the time, in July, Blanco and the Consti- 
tutionalists did not hold any territory in Tamaulipas other 
than Reynosa and Matamoros, a district comprising an ordi- 
nary Texas county. 

The State Department made a pretense of protesting and 
PROTESTING and PROTESTING, and finally declared that 
Blanco must issue a receipt for such goods as he may have 
so taken. But no receipt was forthcoming. At one time he 
denied the looting, but several days later confessed that un- 
authorized persons had entered the premises and taken the 
goods, even intimating to the press that he had captured the 
thief and would execute him on the following day. During 
this time the stolen goods were stacked in his own head- 
quarters, and with his knowledge. 

Blanco's attacking force was estimated at about 1200 with 
Gen. E. P. Nafarrate, Cesario Castro, Augustin Castro, Luis 
Caballero, and Francisco Mujica leading the attacks. His 
losses in killed were estimated at from 250 to 400, but there 
has been no way in which to verify these figures. 

The Federals defending the town were commanded by 
Major Esteban Ramos. Captain Eugenio Cuellar acted with 
the volunteers. The Federal loss was estimated at about 68 
men. Almost at the beginning of the battle, the Federal regu- 
lars and musicians, passed over the International bridge to 



82 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

Brownsville and surrendered to the American soldiers, who 
promptly disarmed and held them in accordance with orders 
from General Parker then at Brownsville. There were 84 who 
thus crossed to the Texas side. In the early morning of the 
fourth, those defenders who had not been killed or had 
not crossed to the Texas side, escaped and later appeared 
about six miles west from Brownsville, but on the Mexican 
side. They were not allowed to cross into Texas. Later, 
Antonio Echarzarrete, one of the Captains, was captured and 
publicly executed in Matamoros. 

Blancho's forces remained at Matamoros until August, 
1913, and then marched on Victoria and Linares, some two 
hundred miles west and southwest from Matamoros. 

While the Mexicans were battling in Mexico and their 
forces were in close touch with the border, Governor Oscar 
Colquitt, in response to numerous requests from citizens 
along the border, at first requested and then demanded from 
the Washington Administration that a part of the 25,000 
soldiers mobilized in Texas should be sent to the border to 
relieve the great tension. Upon a refusal of the Administra- 
tion to send the troops, he at once called out the Texas State 
troops and among others sent the Dallas Light Artillery, 
Capt. Fred Logan, and the Third Infantry, Texas State 
Militia to Fort Brown. Soon thereafter, on April 16, 1914, 
Major Sedgwick Rice with three troops of the 3rd U. S. 
Cavalry and a machine gun platoon, arrived at Ft. Brown. 
Soon afterwards, four companies of Coast Artillery, Major 
Kephart in command, acting as infantrymen, arrived. Then 
followed Col. Guy Carlton, and later, about the latter part 
of July, 1914, Col. A. P. Blocksom, the latter remaining in 
command at Brownsville until May, 1916, when Gen. James 
Parker assumed command of the district and division. 
***** 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 83 

The Carranzistas (Blanco's men reenforced) remained at 
Matamoros in peaceful possession until March, 1915, but in 
the interim sanguinary conflicts were almost of daily occur- 
rence throughout the Republic, the principal scene of battle 
being northern Mexico. During the periodical combats 
along the border of Texas and of New Mexico and Arizona, 
more than twenty Americans on the Texas and American 
side of the river and boundary line, men and women, were 
struck by bullets from the Mexican side, and killed. 

Madero's death occurred on February 22, 1913, just 12 days 
before President W. H. Taft vacated his chair as president 
of the United States, so no action was taken by him relative 
to the recognition of Huerta. He had requested that all 
Americans should depart from Mexico. When Woodrow 
Wilson assumed the reigns of the American government he 
declared that he would not recognize anyone who should have 
ascended to the presidency through assassination and he, too, 
ordered all Americans to depart from Mexico. This brought 
about a feeling of resentment between the old Diazistas and 
Huertistas who charged that the American president was 
meddling in Mexico's affairs, favoring the Constitutionalists. 

American warships under Admiral Fletcher and Badger 
and Mayo had been sent to the Mexican ports of Tampico 
and Vera Cruz to protect as far as possible, the larger inter- 
ests in those sections. The Constitutionalists gradually 
encircled Tampico and about the third of April, 1914, began 
a battle with the Huertistas who occupied the City, They 
already had captured the outskirts and a fierce fire was raging 
between them when on April 10, 1914, an entire whaleboat's 
crew of the Dolphin, auxiliary to U. S. fleet in Tampico, 
was sent ashore for mail. As soon as the marines touched 
Mexican soil. Col. Manuel Hinojosa, a Federal officer, 
approached them and stated that they might consider 
themselves under arrest. He paraded them through the 



84 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande i/ alley 

streets of Tampico en route to the Commandancia. They 
were soon released. The fact that American marines should 
have suffered such an insult was resented by Admiral Mayo, 
then in command of the fleet, who demanded an immediate 
apology from the Mexican government, and a salute of the 
flag. The Huerta government refused this. More protests 
and communications passed between Washington and the 
Mexican capital, but no apology was forthcoming. Immedi- 
ately American warships were rushed to Vera Cruz and 
Tampico. The soldiers mobilized at Galveston and Bay 
City were ordered to hold themselves in readiness. Trans- 
ports which had been lying at Galveston were fully provi- 
sioned. 

On April 21, 1914, President Wilson was advised that a 
steamship, the Ipiranga, was approaching Vera Cruz with 
arms and munitions intended for the Huerta government. 
President Wilson at once ordered Admiral Fletcher to 
prevent the landing of the arms and munitions. As the 
Ipiranga was flying the German flag, no jurisdiction could 
be taken over her, but Fletcher landed marines and took 
possession of the Vera Cruz custom house and docks. The 
American boats, Prairie and Utah landed marines, and these 
were followed by marines and a battalion of seamen from the 
Florida, the total forces landed by the three boats being 787 
officers and men of whom 502 were marines, all under com- 
mand of Capt. W. R. Rush, U. S. Navy. The Prairie was 
compelled to shell certain parts of Vera Cruz to silence a 
fire which developed from the Naval School and other, por- 
tions of the city. During the attack and the landing, 4 
American marines were killed and 21 wounded, the Mexican 
loss being ISO killed and unknown wounded. 

At 9 p. M., the San Francisco landed two companies of 
seamen. The Chester followed and entered the harbor at 
midnight. Admiral Badger arrived at 3 a. m, on the twenty- 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 85 

second with five battleships and landed the marine and seamen 
battalions of the Arkansas, Nezv Hampshire, South Carolina, 
Michigan, and New Jersey. Mexican regulars aided by 
volunteers, policemen, and prisoners from the famous San 
Juan de Ulua dungeons, who had been armed by the Mexican 
General, Mass, resisted the advance, but very feebly. 

The Ipiranga arrived but later proceeded to Puerto, Mexico, 
and there landed her cargo. 

On April 23, 1914, the American flag was flying from 
Admiral Fletcher's headquarters in the Terminal hotel. The 
Star Spangled Banner was played while 21 guns fired by the 
Minnesota heralded the news to the American fleet. 

The Fifth Brigade of the United States Army under com- 
mand of Brigadier General, Frederick Funston, arrived at 
Vera Cruz at daylight on the twenty-eighth. On the twenty- 
ninth of April the troops were distributed, the 4th U. S. 
Infantry being assigned to the care of the railroad yards and 
tracks. The American troops remained at Vera Cruz until 
November 23, 1914, when they reembarked for Galveston and 
home. 

Failing to obtain the recognition of the United States and 
other countries, Gen. Victoriano Huerta abdicated and sailed 
from Mexico, via Puerto, Mexico, on the fifteenth day of 
August, 1914. 

During the month of October, 1914, Francisco Villa, an 
erstwhile bandit, trainwrecker, and subsequently general 
under Carranza, deflected and proclaimed himself an inde- 
pendent chief, beginning a new revolution. 

During the month of September, 1915, the United States 
recognized Venustiano Carranza as the logical head and 
FIRST CHIEF of the Republic of Mexico. Francisco Villa, 
whose armies were still in the field in opposition to Carranza, 
resented this act of the United States, and shortly afterwards 
ordered the assassination of seventeen neutral Americans 



86 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

who were taken from a train at Santa Ysabel, Chihuahua, 
while en route to their homes. 

On March 9, "1916, a band of marauders, led by Villa or 
his officers, swooped down during the late hours of night on 
the town of Columbus, New Mexico. Eight U. S. soldiers and 
ten Americans were killed. More than one hundred of the 
attacking party were killed in the short battle which followed. 
Maj. Frank Tompkins, with two troops 13th U. S. Cavalry 
pursued the Mexicans a short distance into Mexico, but fear- 
ing an ambush and being without sufficient supplies for a 
long march, returned, his troop "G" having killed eighteen 
of the marauders. 

On March 15, 1916, General Pershing entered Mexico with 
the First Punitive expedition. Since that date he has retraced 
a part of his road and wath 12,000 men is now (September 22, 
1916) at Colonia Dublan, two hundred miles south of the 
Border, but in Mexico. 

On March 30, 1916, a squadron of the 7th U. S. Cavalry 
fought 500 Villistas at San Geronimo, the latter being dis- 
persed. Losses: Americans, none. Mexicans, unknown. It 
is claimed Villa was wounded in this attack. 

On April 13, 1916 Carranzistas and citizens of Mexico 
attacked the American troops at Parral, but were repulsed 
upon the arrival of reenforcements. Casualties: One Ameri- 
can soldier killed and one wounded. Mexicans, 40 killed 
including a Mexican major. Major Tompkins reported that 
Carranzistas began the attack. 

On April 22, 1916, Col. E. Dodds, 10th U. S. Cavalry, 
encountered 260 Villistas at Tomachi, Chihuahua, Mexico. In 
the battle which ensued the losses were few, exact number 
unobtainable. 

On May 5, 1916, Major Howze, with a detachment of the 
11th U. S. Cavalry, surprised and dispersed a large band of 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 87 

Villista bandits at Ojos Azules, killing 42. No casualties on 
American side. 

On May 8, 1916, Mexicans attacked Glen Springs (in the 
El Paso district) and in the battle that ensued, killed three 
American soldiers, and captured two American civilians. An 
expedition under Major G. T. Langhorne with a few troops of 
the 8th U. S. Cavalry followed the Glen Springs raiders on 
May 10, 1916. The Americans returned two days later with- 
out having encountered the raiders. Later Colonel Sibley 
crossed with another detachment but returned without results, 
except that he had captured Lieutenant Colonel Alvarez, one 
of the supposed raiders. 

On May 25, 1916, seven men of the 7th U. S. Cavalry 
machine gun company, two engineers, and an employe of the 
quartermaster department, engaged in Jooking for cattle and 
in correcting road maps, were attacked by Villistas not far 
south from Cruces, Chihuahua, Mexico. Corp. David Marks- 
bury, killed, and two wounded of American force. Pvt. 
George O. Hullett, in person, brought down two of the bandit 
leaders. There were 20 Mexicans of whom 18 escaped. 

On June 9, 1916, 20 Americans of the 13th U. S. Cavalry 
under Captain Rethorse, dashed upon a band of Villistas in 
Santa Clara canyon, north of Pershing's Field Headquarters, 
Chihuahua, Mexico, and in the engagement killed three of the 
bandits and dispersed the others. No casualties on the Ameri- 
can side. 

On June 11, 1916, Mexican raiders crossed into Texas, near 
Laredo, Webb County, and in a running fight with members 
of a posse, three of the Mexicans were killed and two 
captured. 

On June 21, 1916, General Gomez, a Carranzista officer, 
with 150 men attacked a detachment of the 10th U. S. Cavalry, 
commanded by Captain Boyd at Carrizal, Chihuahua, Mexico. 



88 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

Boyd and Lieutenant Adair were killed in the battle and 
Lieutenant Morey badly wounded. Nine of the negro soldiers 
were killed and 24 taken prisoners, with the guide, Spillsbury. 
Later the negro prisoners were delivered to the U. S. troops 
at El Paso. In this battle, General Trevifio, Division Com- 
mander, reported 24 Mexicans killed and 43 wounded, among 
the killed being General Gomez. 



CHAPTER X 

T -,. On March 27, 1915, Gen. Jose Rodriguez, 

Lower Rio ,..„. ^ j u ^.7 

^ J TT ,1 a Villista commander, began an attack on 

Grande Valley: r ^/r . ^ i- -^u 

the City of Matamoros, lamauhpas, with 

some 700 men. The City was defended by Gen. Emiliano 

P. Nafarrate and Col. Procopio Elizondo. The Villistas 

attempted to charge the trenches which encircle the City 

of Matamoros. They charged across an open cleared flat 

and were mowed down by machine guns, suiTering a loss 

of at least 250 killed, and many wounded. In fact, 232 

wounded men were allowed to cross the river at Las Rucias 

ranch, five miles west of Brownsville, and were housed and 

cared for by the American citizens, men and women, of 

Brownsville who attended them until their recovery when 

they were sent by this government to Laredo and there 

delivered to the Villistas. 

Not rpore than twelve of the defenders were killed, and 
not more than ten wounded. 

Rodriguez gave up the fight and afterwards boarded the 
train with his men and went to Monterrey where the Villis- 
tas were then in charge. 

General Navarro, one of the Villista commanders, was 
killed in one of the sallies against Matamoros. 

During the month of May, 1915, a band of Mexicans 
estimated to be from twenty to thirty men, were seen by 
various persons in the vicinity of Rancho Los Ifidios, about 
8 or 9 miles east of Sebastian, Cameron County, Texas, and 
35 miles north of Brownsville. Thirty deputy sheriffs and 
many citizens joined in the chase but could never get in 
contact with the Mexicans. American and Mexican farmers 
and ranchmen would report, almost daily, the loss of cattle, 
saddles, etc. 

On July 17, 1915, Bernard Boley, a young American, was 
killed near the north line of the County, supposedly by 
bandits of the party which had been reported. 



90 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

On July 12, 1915, eleven Mexicans, heavily armed, forced 
Nils Peterson, a farmer living about four miles south of 
Lyford, 40 miles North of Brownsville, to open his store 
and to supply them with food and ammunition. 

On July 23, 1915, two brothers, Lorenzo and Gorgonio 
Manriquez, were killed by deputy sheriffs at the Mercedes 
headgates and in the town of Mercedes, respectively. They 
had been denounced as two of four who had robbed a store 
at Progreso (44 miles west from Brownsville on the Rio 
Grande) the year before. It is alleged they resisted arrest. 

On July 25, 1915, bandits set fire to and burned a bridge 
of the St. L. B. & M. Ry. just south of Sebastian. 

On July 28, 1915, Deputy Sheriffs Frank Carr and Daniel 
Hinojosa of San Benito, at ten o'clock at night, while trans- 
porting Adolfo Muniz in an automobile from San Benito to 
Brownsville to be placed in the County jail, were stopped 
2 miles south of San Benito,- where their prisoner was taken 
from them by men in another automobile. The man, Muniz, 
was hung and shot. It was alleged that he tried to commit 
rape on a young girl of the vicinity, and that he was under 
indictment for theft. 

On July 31, 1915, bandits raided Los Indios ranch and 
killed Joe Maria Benavides, a Mexican. 

On August 2, 1915, ten soldiers from Troop A, 12th 
U. S. Cavalry accompanied by deputy sheriffs and civilians, 
rushed Rancho Tule about twenty-five miles north of Browns- 
ville, in quest of bandits. Pvt. G. W. McGuire, 12th 
Cavalry was killed, and Deputy Sheriff Monohan and Joe 
Longoria, and a civilian were wounded. 

On August 3, 1915, rangers and deputy sheriffs attacked 
a ranch near Paso Real, about 32 miles north of Browns- 
ville, and killed Desiderio Flores and his two sons, Mexicans, 
alleged to be bandits. 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 91 

On August 6, 1915, a band of fourteen heavily armed 
Mexicans appeared at Sebastian. After robbing Alexander's 
store of various articles, they proceeded to the granary near 
the railroad track and there picked out A. L. Austin and his 
son, Charlie Austin. After taking these to their home, they 
transported them in a wagon driven by a lad named Millard, 
whom they had also taken prisoner, and at some short dis- 
tance from the house, made the two Austins get out of the 
wagon, and then stood them up and shot them, killing both. 
Millard was released. 

On August 7, 1915, a band of Mexicans shot at and 
wounded one Charles Jensen, night watchman, at the gin at 
Lyford, Texas. 

On the sixth of August, a band of Mexicans shot at an 
automobile near Los Fresnos, twelve miles from Browns- 
ville, wounding Sonny Hufif. 

On August 8, 1915, a party of bandits, estimated to be 
about 60, attacked Las Norias flag station, about 70 miles 
north of Brownsville on the St. L. B. & M. Ry. In the 
battle which ensued, five outlaws were killed and found on 
the ground. Others were badly wounded and it was after- 
wards learned several had died as a result of their wounds. 
Reports having been received that a band was operating in 
that vicinity and had been seen thereabouts, eight cavalry- 
men from Harlingen, Adjutant General Henry Hutchings, 
State troops, Capt. J. M. Fox and ten rangers, Sherifif Vann 
and Capt. H. L. Ransom and his rangers had gone to Las 
Norias to overtake them. 

While the rangers and others went into the brush to find 
the bandits, the eight cavalrymen were left at the station. 
Two civilians, Frank Martin, an old ranger, and a Mr. Forbes 
lived there. 

The Mexicans attacked the ranch apparently not knowing 
of the presence of the troops, Martin and Forbes were 



92 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

badly wounded. During the battle Gordon Hill, Sam Robert- 
son, and three other civilians arrived on a gasoline truck 
from Harlingen, just in time to assist in the battle. 

August 9, 1915, at Mercedes Pump, Mexicans fired on a 
U. S. Cavalry patrol. One> Mexican was killed. 

On August 10, 1915, after dark, Mexicans fired on Cavalry 
patrol at Palm Garden, just west from Mercedes, killing 
Private L. C. Waterfield. 

On August 15, 1915, a Cavalry patrol was fired on by 
Mexicans near Progreso, about one mile north of the 
Rio Grande. No one hurt. 

On August 17, 1915, the patrol at Progreso having 
received information that some bandits were in the vicinity, 
made its way to the river. While on its banks, Mexicans 
fired on the Americans and Corporal Wellman, Troop C, 
12th Cavalry, was killed. Lieut. Roy C. Henry and Private 
Jackson were wounded. 

On August 20, 1915, it was reported that a party of nine 
deserters from the Carranza army in Mexico had crossed 
to the Texas side above Hidalgo. The Sheriff and deputies 
of Hidalgo County gave chase and reported that they had 
killed nine of them, and that the remaining four recrossed 
into Mexico at Madera (about 62 miles west from Browns- 
ville). 

On August 25, 1915, late in the afternoon, at Progreso, 
Texas, Mexicans on the Mexican side fired on the patrol 
of Americans on the Texas side. Two American horses 
were killed. The Mexicans had dug trenches at night time 
and fired from these. Five Mexicans were wounded. 

On August 26, 1915, it was reported that twenty heavily 
armed Mexicans had crossed into Texas a short distance 
west of Progreso. Immediately a chase began, but the 
Mexicans succeeded in recrossing without an encounter. 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 93 

On August 30, 1915, a bridge on the St. L. B. & M. Ry. 
just 12 miles north from Brownsville, was set on fire and 
destroyed. 

On September 1, 1915, a band of about 30 armed Mexicans 
appeared at the second lift pumping plant of the Fresnos 
Canal Company about 14 miles north from Brownsville and 
6 miles east from San Benito. They set fire to the buildings 
and destroyed them. They then took as prisoners Mr, Dodd, 
Mr. Smith, and two Mexicans. They started towards the 
little village called Fresnos where a few American farmers 
had settled. En route they met Mr, Donaldson. They 
took these men to a resaca (old river bed) at the end of 
one of the lateral canals and there executed Smith and 
Donaldson by shooting them through the head and body. 
Mr. Dodd was also taken out to be shot but through the ear- 
nest pleadings of the two Mexican prisoners and the fact 
that at one time in the past he had favored a wounded 
Villista soldier who had been wounded in the battle of 
Matamoros in March preceding, he was spared. When the 
wounded Villistas were being brought from Las Rucias to 
Brownsville, Dodd noticed this man walking and trans- 
ported him to Brownsville in his automobile. The Mexi- 
can remembered it. 

Immediately deputy sheriffs, civilians from San Benito 
and Brownsville, and several detachments of U. S. Cavalry 
were rushed to the scene. Just east of Los Fresnos, they 
came across the camp of the Mexicans and in a skirmish 
which took place in the heavy chaparral, killed one Mexi- 
can, the others escaping. 

On September 3, 1915, at Cavazos crossing, just south of 
Mission, a party of Mexicans crossed into Texas, looting the 
village of Ojo de Agua. Capt, Frank R. McCoy with detach- 
ments of Troops H and G, 3rd U. S. Cavalry, then stationed 
at Mission, and Sheriff A. Y. Baker and deputies struck the 



94 ^ Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

trail and followed the Mexicans to the crossing. On Septem- 
ber 4, the Mexicans fired from the Mexican side of the Rio 
Grande on to the Americans on the Texas side. In the battle 
which ensued, one American soldier was wounded and eleven 
Mexicans killed, and forty wounded. 

On September 10, 1915, bandits attacked some x\mericans 
near Lyford, but were repulsed, the bandits leaving two dead 
on the field. 

On September 13, 1915, just before daylight, Mexicans 
surrounded the Galveston Ranch, about 24 miles west from 
Brownsville. They fired on the 9 sleeping soldiers, killing 
Pvt. Anthony Kraft of the 3rd U. S. Cavalry, and wounding 
two others. The Americans, unable to locate their assailants 
on account of the dark, nevertheless drove them off. 

During that day the soldiers arrested five Mexicans living 
at the ranch. They were taken to San Benito, turned over 
to the deputy sheriff, and placed in jail. That night at about 
9:30, the deputy sheriffs took three of them out of jail and 
started on the Harlingen road. Next morning these three 
Mexicans were found dead, having been executed. 

On September 17, 1915, while reconnoitering the river 
bank within the Brownsville city limits, western extreme, 
with his troop of the 3rd U. S. Cavalry, Lieut. E. L. N. 
Glass was fired upon by Carranzistas from the Mexican 
side of the river. No casualties. 

On September 17, 1915, near Donna at the "Red House" 
crossing of the Rio Grande, a patrol of U. S. soldiers was 
fired upon by Mexicans. Sergeant Llewellyn maintained 
his ground until Lieut. Milton C. Holliday arrived with 
reenforcements. Quite a battle ensued, seventeen Mexi- 
cans being killed or wounded. 

On September 23, 1915, 12 mounted and armed Mexi- 
cans visited the La Talpa ranch, about 20 miles north of 
Mission, Hidalgo County, at about 8 a. m. and stole ranch 
property, horses, mules, rifles, and ammunition. 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 95 

On September 24, 1915, the same band referred to above, 
attempted to raid the ranch of J. B. McAllen, San Juanita, 
Hidalgo County, Texas. Mr. McAllen happened to be the 
only man in the house. With his Mexican woman cook to 
assist in loading the guns, he fired on the 12 men, killed two 
and wounded three. Of the three wounded, two afterwards 
died. The fight lasted more than an hour. McAllen's house 
was riddled with bullet holes. 

On, September 24, 1915, Lieut. W. King of the 26th Infan- 
try, returning to the Saenz store at Progreso, Hidalgo 
County, at about 7:30 a. m., was shocked to find Pvt. 
Henry Stubblefield dead and Private Kennedy wounded. 
The alarm was given and Private Kennedy of the company 
of soldiers rushed to Mercedes Canal headgates for reenforce- 
ments. Lieutenant King with his 9 men opened fire on a party 
of Mexicans who were discovered on the American side, 
estimated to be about 75 men. Four American cavalry 
horses were killed while en route for reenforcements. At 
about 8 o'clock a. m.. Captain Anderson and Troop B, 6th 
U. S. Cavalry, appeared at Progreso. In the battle which 
lasted from 8 to 10 a. m., Captain Anderson was wounded. 
After the battle it was found that of the ten men on guard 
at Progreso crossing, Private Richard J. Johnson was inissing. 
Johnson with his horse and equipment was taken prisoner 
by the Mexicans, carried across the river, his ears first cut 
off and then he was decapitated, his head being displayed 
on a pike. Private Stubblefield and Private Kennedy had 
arrived at the Saenz store simultaneously, and after Stubble- 
field was shot down, Kennedy shielding himself behind a 
little monument in front of the little church, alone and unaided 
fought desperately against the bandits until the first rein- 
forcements arrived. His assailants numbered more than 50 
men. 

It was afterwards learned that Stubblefield unsuspectingly 
ran into the Mexicans as they were setting fire to the Saenz 



96 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

house intending to destroy it. As he entered the door he 
was riddled with bullets and fell dead. 

On September 27, 1915, an outpost of Troop M, 6th 
U. S. Cavalry, was fired upon near the La Feria pumping 
plant, twenty-eight miles west of Brownsville. No casualties. 

On September 28, 1915, a lady living near Harlingen was 
attacked by two Mexicans, and wounded in her forearm. 

On October 9, 1915, Mexicans fired from the Mexican 
side on U. S. troops of 6th Cavalry, at the Mercedes pumping 
plant, 40 miles west from Brownsville. No casualties. 

On October 18, 1915, the southbound St. L. B. & M. 
passenger train was derailed six miles north of Brownsville. 
The Mexican bandits, some sixty in number, had drawn all 
the spikes and fishplates connecting two parallel rails. With 
a wire attached to the rail on the west side, just as the 
train dashed by at a speed of about 30 miles an hour, they 
pulled the rail from under the moving engine. The engine 
was ditched lying at right-angles from the main line. The 
baggage and mail cars were turned onto their sides. In 
the smoker were seated four soldiers without arms, boys on 
a trip of recreation; Dr. E. S. McCain, State Health Officer 
stationed at Brownsville; Harry Wallis, formerly a ranger; 
John Kleiber, District Attorney of the State Court for the 
district; and several others. As soon as the train had come 
to a complete stop, four unmasked Mexicans entered and 
began shooting at the citizens, and then, seeing the soldiers 

turned their fire on them. Corporal McBee, Pvt. 

Claude J. Brashear, and Corp. C. H. Laymond, the three 
of 3rd U. S. Cavalry, were fired upon, McBee just as he 
was rising from the floor, being shot and instantly killed. 
Brashear was approached by the leader and after several 
words, was shot in the face just to the right of the nose, 
the ball coming out in the neck. He survived. Laymond 
was shot in the leg and neck. He survived. Dr. McCain 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 97 

and Wallis sought refuge in the toilet. The bandits fired 
through the toilet door, one of the shots striking McCain 
in the abdomen. He died next day. Wallis was shot in 
the arm and hand, but has recovered. 

The engineer, H. H. Kendall, was pinned beneath his 
cab, and killed, his hand on the throttle. A great many 
shots were fired from the brush into the train but other 
than as stated, none took effect. R. Woodall, fireman, was 
painfully burned by escaping steam. 

By ten o'clock next morning, seven suspects had been 
captured, and later, that same day, the Rangers executed 
four of these for alleged complicity in the wreck. 

On October 24, 1915, the Sunday following the wreck, a 
band of Mexicans attacked the soldier camp at the oil well, 
about three hundred yards from the scene of the wreck. 
They approached just about dusk and fired into the camp. 
One soldier, Herman C. Moore, 4th U. S. Infantry, was 
shot, and died from his wounds several days later. 

On October 21, 1915, a party of Mexicans attacked the 
soldiers at "Ojo de Agua" ranch, about one mile north of 
the Rio Grande and about one mile south of what is known 
as Chihuahua, branch line of the St. L. B. & M. Ry., 74 
miles west from Brownsville. At the time of the attack 
there were eight or nine men of the signal corps and seven 
or eight of Troop G, 3rd U. S. Cavalry, at the ranch. 
Without the slightest intimation that anything might happen, 
the soldiers had retired and were sound asleep. Suddenly, 
at about one o'clock, a terrific volley was fired upon the 
sleeping men and into the little wooden shack occupied by 
them. The soldiers soon rallied and although the signal 
corps possessed only pistols, a stubborn resistance was made. 
The shooting was heard in the vicinity and reported to Capt. 
Frank R, McCoy, who ordered all troops in the vicinity to the 
scene. The wireless plant being out of commission at the hour 



98 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

designated for reports, 1:30 a. m., Capt. Frank R. McCoy 
and Capt. W. J. Scott with a company of 3rd U. S. Cavalry, 
started from Mission about 8 miles distant, and arrived on 
the scene just as it was about over. 

Captain Scott was in bivouac at Penitas, two miles west 
of Ojo de Agua, and with a small detachment of twelve 
recruits hastened to the sound of the firing and attacked from 
the west and was largely responsible for driving the raiders 
off. 

In this battle the Americans lost: Killed; Sergeant 
Shaffer, Troop G, 3rd ,U. S. Cavalry; 1st Class Private 
Joyce, Company G, U. S. Signal Corps; and 1st Class 
Private McConnell, Company D, U. S. Signal Corps. 
Wounded: Pvts. Fred Behr, Paul Langland, Ben Hallenbeck 
of the 3rd U. S. Cavalry Troop. G, and 1st Class Serg. H. R. 
Smith; Corp-. Lewis Candalla; and Pvt. L. T. Stewart, U. S. 
Signal Corps. Two others were slightly wounded. 

The Mexican loss: Five men killed and found within 
fifty feet of the ranch house, and nine wounded, two of whom 
died afterwards. 

On November 1, 1915, a patrol of Company L, 28th U. S. 
Infantry, was fired upon at the crossing known as McCon- 
nell's, 68 miles west from Brownsville. One Mexican was 
killed. 

On November 4, 1915, a patrol of Captain Hasson's com- 
pany, 6th U. S. Cavalry, was fired on from across Rio 
Grande at Mercedes Canal head gates. No casualties. 

On November 12, 1915, a Mexican scout in U. S. service 
at Perdernal ranch, fired upon five Mexicans. No casualties. 

On November 21, 1915, an Infantry patrol near Mercedes 
head gates was fired upon by Mexicans. No casualties. 

On January 26, 1916, Pvts. W. P. Wheeler and Biggo 
Pederson, Battery D, 4th U. S. Field Artillery, while in 
swimming in the Rio Grande just south of Progreso, swam 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 99 

to the Mexican side. There they were taken prisoners by 
the Mexicans and carried back from the river. As soon as 
it was reported to the officers in charge of the commands, 
believing that it was the intention of the Mexicans to abuse 
the two soldiers, Lieut. John E. Mort, 2nd Lieut. Bernard 
R. Peyton and Lieut. Albert W. Waldron, all of Battery 
D, 4th U. S. Field Artillery, with about twenty men, 
started across by fording and swimming. All but Sgt. 
Owen L. Clements, Corporal Michael F. Ring, Private 
Perry M. Rhode, and Pvt. Charles D. Wilton Best, landed 
safely, but those named were drowned, their bodies being 
recovered about three days later. 

This detachment were unable to find the two soldiers 
though they searched many houses. Being informed that 
Carranza soldiers had taken them and would not maltreat 
them, the expedition returned to the Texas side. On Janu- 
ary 27, 1916, the Carranzista Commander at Matamoros 
turned the two men over to U. S. Consul Johnson, and they 
were soon back on Texas soil. A court-martial was convened 
to try the offending officers who received some minor repri- 
mand and were detailed for more onerous duties elsewhere. 

February 16, 1916, Patrol of Company L, 28th U. S. 
Infantry at Pefiitas, 75 miles west from Brownsville and not 
far from Ojo de Agua, was fired on. No casualties. 

June 15, 1916, Patrol Troop M, 3rd U. S. Cavalry was 
fired upon between Roma and Arroyo del Tigre (about 125 
miles west 'from Brownsville). No casualties. 

From the date of the killing of Donaldson and Smith in 
September, thousands of Mexicans and Mexican-Texans 
crossed from the Texas side to Mexico seeking safety and 
refuge. Many of these joined the raiders and bandits and 
organization along the Mexican river front was constant and 
open. Until finally, about the twentieth day of October, the 
bandits had organized a substantial army of from 250 to 400 



100 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

men, and with impunity they paraded the river front between 
Reynosa and Matamoros, the Commander of the Mexican 
army at Matamoros feehng unable to cooperate with the 
Americans in suppressing the lawless bands, or feeling help- 
less to deal with the Mexicans, or being indifferent. 

In October, Gen. Alfredo Ricaut assumed command at 
Matamoros and promised that there should be no further 
invasions of American territory from the Mexican side, on 
the lower border. During his stay at Matamoros from that 
date until June 14, 1916, there was a total cessation of 
hostilities on the part of the raiders, though several antici- 
pated expeditions were nipped in the bud by Ricaut. 

On June 14, 1916, a band of about 24 Mexicans crossed 
into Texas 9 miles west from Brownsville at the place called 
Ranchito, a ranch on the American side just opposite to 
Rancho Tahuachal on the Mexican side. They were dis- 
covered about 9 miles northeast of San Benito by Captain 
Watson and a detachment of the U. S. Army who fired into 
them. One Mexican was afterwards found dead. Immediately 
upon receiving information at Ft. Brown, Gen. James Parker, 
who on May 18, 1916, had taken command of the District of 
Brownsville, ordered Lieut. A. D. Newman with fifty soldiers 
of Troop H, 3rd U. S. Cavalry, to go after the marauders. At 
12 o'clock midnight, on the sixteenth, Newman and troop left 
Brownsville; at 4 o'clock on the morning of the seventeenth, 
coming onto tracks of the bandits and following them to the 
Rio Grande, at 9 a. m. the Americans crossed the river by 
swimming their horses. They followed tracks of the Mexicans 
and at Pedernal ranch, about a mile from the river near the 
crossing, had a skirmish with some of them, killing two of the 
Mexicans. No casualties among the Americans. 

On the seventeenth, at 1:30 p. m. Maj. Edward A. Anderson, 
with Troops E, Capt. John Read, Jr., and Lieut. George H. 
Peabody; F, Lieut. E. C. McGuire; G, Capt. William S. Wells. 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley loi 

and with Machine Gun Troop of the Srd Cavalry, Capt. Oscar 
Foley, left Fort Brown, accompanied by 20 men of the 4th 
U. S. Infantry, Lieut. Floyd R. Waltz, with two small boats 
loaded on motor trucks, and Lieut. J. H. Muncaster, with a 
wireless outfit. At about 6 p. m. the cavalry and machine gun 
troop crossed over at the Tahuachal ranch crossing (Longi- 
tude 97° 38' Latitude 26°), and marched eastward towards 
Matamoros, encamping for the night at Rancho Pascuala, 
three miles east of the crossing and seven miles west from 
Matamoros. Next morning, Sunday the eighteenth, orders 
from Washington recalled the Americans from Mexico. 

After the machine gun troop and all but Capt. Read's troop 
of Cavalry had crossed back to the American side, Carran- 
zistas fired on the rear guard of the Americatis. Upon orders 
from. Colonel Bullard, then at the scene but on the American 
side in command of his regiment of the 26th Infantry, the 
cavalry chased the Carranzistas eastward until the dust 
thrown up by their horses' hoofs shielded them so that it 
was impossible to locate them. In this encounter two Car- 
ranzistas were killed, one a subaltern officer. No casualities 
sufifered by the Americans. 

On the morning of the eighteenth. Colonel Bullard, then at 
Harlingen, dispatched a battalion of the 26th to Fort Brown 
and with the other battalions proceeded to protect Major 
Anderson's crossing. One boat load of his anxious 26th 
Infantry had already reached the Mexican shore when the 
wireless conveyed the orders of withdrawal. 

During the 24 hours occupancy of Mexican territory by 
the Americans, the City of Matamoros was thrown into a 
tumult of fear. General Ricaut evacuated with his entire garri- 
son and ordered every woman and child out of the city. By 
one o'clock, Tuesday, excepting a few pickets and a number of 
citizens who preferred to risk an American bombardment 
to the loss of their small savings, at the hands of thieves 



102 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

and looters, the City of Matamoros for the first time in its 
history was almost completely deserted. General Parker 
assured General Ricaut that the Americans would under no 
circumstances bombard the city as long as women and chil- 
dren might remain in it, and that in any event, due notice 
would be given in time to allow an evacuation. But, he also 
insisted that these invasions must stop or there would be a 
likelihood of American invasion of Mexico; that the Ameri- 
cans were getting a little petulant over these persistent 
annoyances. General Ricaut assured General Parker that not 
a man should pass to the American side excepting at regular 
crossings, and that he would execute any caught in the acts 
of banditti. Since then, peace has reigned supreme in the 
Lower Rio Grande Valley. 

The author believes that to the prompt act of General Par- 
ker in showing the Mexican authorities that he was here to 
act, and the elimination of note-writing protests may be 
attributed the complete change in feeling of the Mexicans 
along the lower border: he believes that should such a crossing 
have been undertaken at the outset of the troubles when 
Blanco assassinated Alamia at Rio Bravo, the American 
people, American property, and the American flag would 
always have been respected. 

On June 15, 1916, about one hundred Mexicans crossed 
from Mexico into Texas at San Ignacio, forty miles south 
of Laredo, Texas, and about 180 miles west of Brownsville, 
at 2 o'clock A. M. and fired upon two troops of the 14th U. S. 
Cavalry as they lay asleep. The Americans lost three killed: 
Pvts. Charles Flowers, Edward Katonsh, and James Minaden. 
Wounded: Pvts. Thomas H. Swing, James E. Rouch, Tony 
Havelya, Henry Matasof¥, P. W. Minnette, and Corp. William 
Oberlein. Troop "M" was fired upon, and then Troop "I" 
a short distance up the river, dashed to its rescue. Major 
Gray was in command. Capt. Edgar A. Sirmeyer and Capt. 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 103 

Kyle Rucker company commanders. Lieut. J. B. Coulter, 
Troop "M." The bodies of six Mexicans were found. No 
account as to number of escaped wounded. 

During the bandit troubles between August 4, 1915, and 
June 17, 1916, one hundred Mexicans have been executed 
by the Texas rangers and Deputy Sheriffs, without process 
of law. Some place the figures at 300. Most of these 
executions, it has been asserted, were by reason of data 
furnished the Rangers implicating the particular Mexicans 
in the raids which were occurring. 

On Sunday, June 18, 1916, the Washington Administration 
issued a statement referring to the disturbed conditions along 
the Mexican border, adding that in order to insure complete 
protection for all Americans, substantially all the militia 
organizations throughout the United States had been called 
out and would be sent to the border whenever and wherever 
Gen. Frederick Funston might determine. 

On June 21, 1916, the attack on the 10th U. S. Cavalry at 
Carrizal, Chihuahua, Mexico, by Gen. Gomez, took place. 
Immediately matters assumed a serious aspect. Excitement 
reigned throughout the Republic of Mexico where the more 
ignorant broke out in hostile demonstrations against the 
Americans, in some places going as far as to order them 
to leave the Republic entirely. Rumors of the killing of 
Americans residing in Mexico became common. Carranza 
demanded the immediate withdrawal of Pershing's troops 
from Mexican soil. The Washington Administration flatly 
refused to heed this demand. 

On the Lower Valley border, General Parker demanded 
of General Ricaut that he arrest and punish the bandits who 
had attempted to violate our laws on the 15th of June, and 
whose names were furnished by the former. On the 22nd 
General Ricaut answered that he would at once endeavor to 



104 ^ Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

arrest them.; that he would cooperate with the Americans 
and that he would punish any who might be found guilty. 

On June 23, 1916, the first body of militia troops began 
to arrive in the Valley when Battery "A" Dallas Field Artil- 
lery, Capt. Frederick A. Logan, arrived at Harlington and 
proceeded to Ringgold Barracks. 

On June 24, Gen. Parker ordered traffic over the Inter- 
national Bridge at Brownsville to be suspended. 

On June 26, 1916, the Washington Administration 
demanded the delivery to the representatives of the U. S. 
government, of the 17 troopers of the 10th U. S. Cavalry 
who had been captured at Carrizal by the Carranzistas when 
they attacked the Americans. 

On June 27, 1916, there were stationed along the Lower 
Rio Grande Border under command of Gen. James Parker, 
the following soldiers: 

4th U. S. Infantry, Col. E. E. Hatch, 

26th U. S. Infantry, Col. R. L. Bullard, 

2nd Texas Infantry, Col. B. F. Delameter. 

3rd Texas Infantry, Col. Geo. P. Rains. 

3rd U. S. Cavalry, Col. A, P, Blocksom, commanding. 
Colonel Blocksom had been commanding officer of the Lower 
Valley from June, 1914. 

Battery "A" 4th U. S. Field Artillery, 

Battery "A" Dallas Field Artillery. 

Immediately State Militia from Virginia, Iowa, Illinois, 
South Dakota, Minnesota, Indiana, Nebraska, North Dakota, 
Louisiana, and Oklahoma, began to pour into the Valley. 
(See personnels under MILITARY MOVEMENTS IN 
THE VALLEY.) 

On July 12, 1916, the organization of the 36th U. S. 
Infantry, which had been authorized during April, 1916, was 
begun at a point in Brownsville between West Brownsville 
and Brownsville proper contiguous to the main line of the 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 105 

St. L. B. & M. Ry. Officers; Col. Almon L. Parmenter, com- 
manding: Lieut. Col. Paul A. Wolfe, Maj. H. B. Fiske;. Maj. 
James V. Heidt; Major Edward A. Roche. Capts.: Charles 
A. Thuis, Thomas C. Musgrave, Jesse Gaston, David P. 
Wood, Roderick Dew, R. B. Hewitt, H. H. Bissell, M. E. 
Malloy, Fred H. Baird, W. C. Whitener, M. H. Shute, Fred 
A. Cook, G. H. Huddleston, E. L. Field; 1st Lieuts.: W. G. 
Langwill, G. C. Whiting, C. W. Elliott, C. M. Everett, J. G. 
Thornell, A. W. Wilson, C. F. McKinney, E. G. Sherbourne, 
M. F. Davis, C. L. Ritchel, N. R. Randolph and Arthur A. 
White, 1st Lieut. W. J. McConnell, 1st Lieut. Harry Kalman 
Leow, Surgeons, and later, Lieut. R. R. D. McCullough was 
attached. 

On July 13, 1916, Lieut. Col. Edward A. Anderson, recently 
promoted, Capt. Oscar Foley and Capt. John V. Spring, Jr., 
recently promoted, left for San Antonio with 125 men to 
help form a new regiment, 16th U. S. Cavalry. 

On July 31, 1916, the following troops were in the Valley: 

At Brownsville: 

4th U. S. Infantry 

3rd U. S. Cavalry 

1st Virginia Infantry 

2nd Virginia Infantry 

1st Iowa Infantry 

2nd Iowa Infantry 

3rd Iowa Infantry 

1st Illinois Cavalry 

Battalion Virginia Field Artillery 

Battalion Iowa Field Artillery 

36th U. S. Infantry, organizing. 

At Mercedes and Llano Grande: 
1st Indiana Infantry 

162 Indiana Infantry 

163 Indiana Infantry 



io6 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

4th Nebraska Infantry 

5th Nebraska Infantry 

1st Minnesota Infantry 

3rd Minnesota Infantry 

North Dakota Infantry 

Battalion Louisiana Field Artillery 

Battalion Indiana Field Artillery 

Minnesota Field Artillery 

Squadron Iowa Cavalry 

Troop Louisiana Cavalry , 

2 Troops Oklahoma Cavalry, 
At San Benito: 

South Dakota Infantry 

Louisiana Infantry 

Oklahoma Infantry. 
At Harlingen: 

2nd Texas Infantry 

3rd Texas Infantry. 
Gen. Edward H. Plummer, formerly of 28th U. S. Infantry, 
was designated on March 17, to command all forces at Llano 
Grande. 

***** 

Gen. James Parker, in command of the Brownsville Dis- 
trict, with Capt. Frank R. McCoy, Chief of Staff; Capt. Cort- 
landt Parker, A. D. C; Lieut. W. D. Crittenberg, A. D. C; 
Lieut. Paul Raborg, A. D. C; Capt. Alfred Aloe, Depot Quar- 
termaster; Lieut. Col. Fred D. Evans, Adjutant General; 
Capts. A. L. Conger, A. Moreno, Assistants to Adjutant; 
Lieut. Col. T. J. Kirkpatrick, District Surgeon; Lieut. Col, 
Frank Reynolds, Sanitary Inspector; Maj. F. E. Hopkins, 
District Signal Officer; Lieut. Col. Geo. Howells, District 
Engineer; Capt, L, D. Gasser, Depot Quartermaster. 



CHAPTER XI 

THE TEXAS RANGERS AND THEIR SERVICE ON 
THE LOWER RIO GRANDE 

The Texas rangers consist of various groups of what 
might be called CONSTABULARY. As rangers they have 
been known since Texas became a Republic, and tradition 
attributes to them the credit for having, during the early 
days, procured better results for the peace and security of the 
State than has any man or body of men. During Taylor's 
march to Fort Brown and before and during the battles of 
Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma, as scouts they rendered 
valuable service under Walker and McCulloch. Afterwards, 
under the same leaders they led the American army into 
Monterrey, Saltillo, and Buena Vista, obtaining the only 
reliable data upon which Taylor might base his operations. 
At Monterrey, while the battle raged, they worked their 
way from house to house, crossed from house-top to house- 
top, and silenced the chara9teristic snipers who, more than 
all others, impeded the American advance. It was McCul- 
loch's Ranger scouts who, far south of Buena Vista, discov- 
ered the hordes of Santa Anna approaching, and notified 
Taylor so that he might pick out his own battle ground. 

From the time of the American invasion of Mexico to the 
days of our Civil War, they have suffered many encounters 
and hair-breadth escapes at the hands of the most desperate 
characters. Among the Rangers were such men as Col. John 
S. (RIP) Ford; Capt. Sul Ross, afterwards governor of Texas, 
who single-handed killed a noted Comanche Chief; Capts. 
Bill McDonald, Hughes, McNelley, McMurry, Rudd, Oglesby, 
Hall, Shelby, Bill Scott, J. R. Jones, Frank Jones, Brooks, 
Ira Aten and, not the least, John B. x\rmstrong, who from 
1878 to 1914, the day of his death, resided at Armstrong Sta- 
tion, Cameron County. While their battles and victories have 



io8 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

been many, we must limit their recitals to those most inti- 
mately relating to the Lower Border. 

Mexican and American outlaws have always found an 
aslyum along the Rio Grande border, where they might escape 
to either side, according to necessity. Their living has 
depended chiefly on illegal foraging and marauding. Due 
to the depredations of these disreputable men, stock raising 
along the lower border, and even as far north as Corpus 
Christi, was dealt a severe blow during the period from 1867 
to 1876. Several instances of their lawless activities are 
cited here: 

During the month of November, 1874, Billy McMahan, a 
very popular inoffensive American school teacher whose 
school was several miles North of Brownsville, was waylaid 
by desperadoes led by one, AGUJO (the needle). These men 
tortured McMahan by cutting off his fingers, toes, wrists, and 
ears. They finally severed his legs from his body and left 
him lifeless. 

During May, 1875, seven armed Mexicans appeared at what 
was then known as "Fulton's Store" situated on the Los 
Torritos grant, about a mile east of the San Juan Sugar Plan- 
tation and 48 miles west from the city of Brownsville, in the 
military or river road. They attacked and killed the owner, 
George W. Fulton, and his Mexican clerk, Mauricio Leal, 
and mortally wounded another clerk. Fulton put up a good 
fight killing three of his assailants. 

About the same time a noted desperado from Matamoros, 
without provocation, fired into a carriage as it was traveling 
west on the military road, about 9 miles from Brownsville. 
The bullet struck a prominent Brownsville citizen, a Mr. 
Alexander, in the heart. The assailant escaped into Mexico 
and later was killed in the streets of Matamoros by another 
character equally as desperate. 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 109 

Travel along the roads leading into Brownsville became 
so dangerous, and cow-thieving reached such a stage, that 
the governor dispatched rangers to the Valley. 

On June 12, 1875, Capt. J. F. McNelley and his company 
of twenty-two rangers, guided by H. S. Rock, Lino Saldana, 
Casimiro Tamayo, ?nd Timoteo Solis of Brownsville, overtook 
a band of 16 cow-thieves running 300 head of cattle. Fighting 
commenced just as the thieves emerged from the Reparo 
thicket, 4 miles north from the present target range on Loma 
Alta, and 14 miles from Brownsville. Fifteen cowthieves 
were killed and their bodies brought to Brownsville and 
displayed on the market square. One ranger, Berry Smith, 
was killed by the cow-thieves. 

During the 19th, 20th, and 21st of November, 1875, U. S. 
Customs ofificers, Albert Dean and John Mix, while patrolling 
the Rio Grande, near a place called "Los Ebanos," 84 miles 
west from Brownsville, and 2 miles west from Samfordyce, 
encountered a band of thieves who were at that time engaged 
in crossing some stolen cattle from the Texas to the Mexican 
side of the Rio Grande. An engagement took place and Dean 
fell, feigning death. Mix hurried to Rio Grande, 20 miles 
distant, and soon returned with McNelley's rangers accom- 
panied by a troop of the 7th U. S. Cavalry, Capt. John F. 
Randlett commanding. The Americans crossed into Mexico 
and attacked the town of San Miguel de las Cuevas, killing 
several Mexicans who resisted the invasion of Mexican soil. 
George More, a Brownsville boy, was the first person to 
reach the Mexican side. He swam the river with his clothing 
tied around his neck and his pistol scabbard clenched in his 
teeth, the other rangers and U. S. Cavalry protecting his 
crossing. The Commandante (chief officer of the town) of 
Las Cuevas refused to deliver the cattle which had been 
crossed, claiming that they should first be released by the 
Mexican customs officials, without whose consent they had 



no A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

been imported into Mexico. However, the Americans drove 
the animals back to Texas. Captain McNelley reported five 
Mexicans killed and one wounded. Afterwards the Mexican 
authorities cooperated with Capt. Randlett and thereafter, to 
some extent prevented the crossing into Mexico of stolen 
cattle. 

On May 17, 1876, 5 miles from Edinburg, now called 
Hidalgo, 58 miles west from Brownsville, McNelley's men 
had a similar encounter with a party of 4 Mexican cattle 
thieves. Two of the thieves were killed and one badly 
wounded. The rangers recovered 7 head of cattle and 6 horses 
with their equipments. 

On March 12, 1887, Capt. Bill Scott, while searching in 
the early dawn, for a band of American criminals known as 
the "Conner Gang," was fired upon. Scott's party of rangers 
consisted of four men in addition to two others in the near 
vicinity. In the engagement which took place. Captain Scott 
fell with a bullet in his lungs; Sergeant Briggs was severely 
wounded; Private Rogers was dangerously wounded, and 
Private Moore was instantly killed, there being but one of 
the rangers unhurt. Scott, with his one unhurt and two 
wounded comrades, succeeded in killing one and wounding 
another of the Conners, besides slaying four large ferocious 
dogs which were kept by them as camp guards. Two months 
later Scott and Briggs, in a running fight, killed old man 
Conner, two of his sons, and one grandson, a mere youth, 
thus breaking up the band of most desperate criminals. 

On May 17, 1885, Sergt. B. D. Lindsay and six men from 
Company D frontier battalion of rangers, while scouting 
near the Rio Grande for escaped Mexican convicts, saw two 
Mexicans riding along leading a horse, moving towards the 
Rio Grande. As the horses suited the description of those 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley iii 

alleged to be in the possession of the convicts, and under 
the impression that these two were the men he was after, 
Lindsay called to them to halt, and at once opened fire on 
them. The elder Mexican fell to the ground with his horse, 
but the younger, firing from behind the dead animal, shot 
Private Sieker through the heart, killing him instantly. B. C. 
Reilly was shot through both thighs and badly wounded. The 
Mexicans stood their ground until the arrival of men from 
the ranch of a deputy-sheriff named Prudencio Herrera, who 
had heard the firing. Herrera insisted that the two Mexicans 
were well known and highlly respected citizens and refused 
to turn them over to the rangers, but in person, with an 
escort, conducted them to Laredo. Ira Aten, Private Baker 
and Private Grant accompanied the party. At Laredo, after 
a prelimiinary hearing the Mexicans were released and the 
rangers arrested. The citizens of Laredo, Webb County, 
were indignant over the act of the rangers in shooting on 
Gonzales, claiming that he was a well-known citizen of good 
repute, and alleging that the rangers would have killed them 
at the outset but for the fact that they defended themselves. 
The rangers, on the other hand, claimed that unless they 
would have proceeded as they did, should the Mexicans have 
been the criminals they were really after, they, the rangers, 
would have been fired on first. Afterwards both Mexicans 
and rangers were acquitted. 

During the month of November, 1906, the District Judge 
of the district, which includes Cameron County, was murdered 
as he lay asleep in his room at Rio Grande City. Politics 
were hot and the campaign was bitter. Word was falsely 
published broadcast that the Republicans had murdered the 
Judge, Stanley Welch, and that they were endeavoring to 
take control of the affairs of Starr County. 



112 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

The Governor rushed Capt. William McDonald and three 
rangers to Rio Grande City to preserve the peace. About 
dark, as they were en route from Samfordyce to Rio Grande, 
they observed a wagonload of Mexicans, shouting and singing, 
approaching them. The Rangers allege that upon a command 
to halt, the Mexicans opened fire upon them. After the smoke 
had cleared, three dead Mexicans were found in the wagon 
and on the ground. The Mexicans who survived alleged 
that they were returning from Rio Grande or Garcias where 
they had been participating in the aftermath of the election 
festivities and that the whole affair was a mistake. None of 
the rangers was hurt. 

Upon the advent of the railroad and the beginning of 
canal work for the many irrigation schemes along the Rio 
Grande, the population of the Valley rapidly increased, the 
newcomers being principally speculators from Northern States 
with their complement of land-seeking tourists who wished 
to live in a milder climate, and a large number of Mexican 
laborers from Tamaulipas, Mexico, and other points further 
in. 

Proportionate to the number of new settlers, compara- 
tively few murders or killings took place, although thieving 
became a profession so that almost every family of Americans 
in the Valley suffered the loss of their fine-blooded stock, 
farming implements, etc. 

Nevertheless, several Americans were killed at different 
times, and some Mexicans. As a precaution, and to forestall 
any attempts to kill, rangers were brought to and stationed 
at convenient points along the Lower Valley. From 1907 
to January, 1913, sixteen Mexicans were killed by rangers 
and Peace Officers within the limits of Hidalgo and Cameron 
County. Most of these killings, it was alleged, occurred 
while the officer would be attempting to make an arrest the 
Mexican resisting and showing a disposition to injure. 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 113 

During the month of May, 1910, James Darwin, the 
engineer in charge of the San Benito Canal Company's 
pumping plant on the banks of the Rio Grande, was killed 
by a Mexican named Jacinto Trevino. A week before, Dar- 
win had slapped a cousin of Jacinto who had insulted his, 
Darwin's, wife. 

The entire citizenship of San Benito and its community, 
were aroused over the affair, A suitable reward was posted. 

On July 31, 1910, Pablo Trevifio, a boy of 18, a cousin of 
Jacinto, informed the San Benito people that Jacinto intended 
to cross from Mexico (where he lived) into Texas, with 
several of his cousins, for the avowed purpose of killing one 
of the American authorities of San Benito who had made 
threats to capture him. 

Pablo offered to bring his cousins past a certain spot in 
the brush down near the military highway where he would lag 
behind and assist the Americans to capture Jacinto. A num- 
ber of rangers and deputy sheriffs, accompanied by civilians, 
went to the scene in automobiles. They left the automobiles 
at a certain place on the road while they proceeded afoot to 
the designated spot. Hearing some men approaching, the 
rangers challenged them. The other party repeated the 
challenge and immediately opened fire, killing Lieut. Capt. 
George Carnes, of the State Ranger force; Bennie Lawrence, 
special deputy sheriff, and Pablo Trevino; and wounding Pat 
Craighead, a ranger, and Earl West, constable of San Benito. 
Not one of the Mexicans was seen thereabouts afterwards, 
and the report is that all escaped unhurt — in fact, the com- 
mon talk among the Mexicans on the Mexican side is that 
there were no Mexicans in the battle other than Pablo. 

Capt. George Head, under orders from County Judge 
John L. Bartlett of Brownsville, immediately proceeded to 
the place with twenty-five of the Brownsville Rifles, but 
nothing further occurred. 



114 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

During the year 1910 and 1911, rangers killed several 
Mexicans at and near San Benito who, supposedly, had par- 
ticipated in the killing of Carnes and Lawrence. 

On the 19th day of September, 1903, while a detachment 
of rangers were en route to Brownsville from the Ranger 
Camp on the Wells place on the north side of the highway 
on the eastern outskirts of Brownsville, Mexicans in ambush 
fired upon them, killing Emmett Roebuck and wounding A. Y. 
Baker. It was believed the Mexicans were the relatives of a 
Mexican youth who, it was alleged, had been killed by the 
rangers when caught in the act of branding a calf belonging 
to others, and who at the time resisted arrest. 

Immediately following the Las Norias Raid, on August 8, 
1915, hereinbefore referred to, the Rangers began a systematic 
manhunt and killed, according to a verified list, 102 Mexicans. 
It is claimed by citizens and army officers who saw many of 
the bodies, that at least 300 Mexicans were so killed. 

After the wrecking of the train just north of Brownsville, 
on October 18, 1915, hereinbefore referred to, citizens, sol- 
diers and rangers were rushed to the scene. Early in the 
morning of the 19th, the Rangers captured seven suspects. They 
searched the houses of some of these and claim to have found 
therein unmistakable evidences that these had participated 
in the wrecking. For instance, valises, clothing, shoes, etc., 
which had been taken from the passengers, the dead soldier 
and the wounded soldier, were found among the possessions 
of some of the suspects. One man, at the time of his capture, 
wore a shirt out of which, it is claimed, a piece was missing. 
This piece was found hanging to a thorn of a bush at the 
exact place where the wreckers had stood when they pulled 
the rail which wrecked the train. The bodies of four of 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 115 

these men were found that afternoon about a mile from the 
wreck, riddled with bullets. 

During the thirty years immediately preceding 1915, 
although many persons had been caught and tried for cattle 
thieving, few had been convicted. Political influence had been 
a prime factor in the trial of many malefactors, and it is 
alleged that by reason of the inability of a good jury to convict 
a really guilty man, the inhabitants had become indifferent. 
When the Rangers came in again, it seems to have been 
considered cheaper and speedier to intrust to them the cap- 
ture, trial, and infliction of the penalty upon those who might 
be suspected. 

The author cannot let pass this opportunity to say that 
during the bandit raids of 1915 many evil influences were 
brought to bear to clear the country of the Mexicans. To 
his knowledge more than one was forced to flee and to convey 
his chattels before going. 



CHAPTER XII 
INCIDENTS IN BROWNSVILLE HISTORY. 
LEGAL EXECUTIONS 

During the year 1867, three Mexicans were tried in the 
District Court of Cameron County, at Brownsville, for the 
crime of having murdered a family of Mexicans not far north 
from Brownsville. They were convicted and late in October 
of that year were hung on a scafifold erected in the Fort 
Brown reservation not far from the jail (existing in Sep- 
tember, 1916) and about 150 feet directly in front of what is 
known as the gymnasium. At the time it was feared that 
relatives and sympathizers would attempt to effect their 
rescue, and as a precaution the execution took place in the 
garrison. 

During 1866, a U. S. soldier of those then encamped on 
the border, murdered an army doctor in the latter's tent 
outside of the garrison and just east of Block C, City of 
Brownsville. He v/as captured, tried, and sentenced to be 
hanged. The temporary jail in which he was incarcerated 
was the two-story brick building on Lot 1, Block No. 63, 
west side of 13th Street, between Elizabeth and Washington, 
being the U. S. jail since the burning of Ft. Brown by General 
pjee in 1863. The date for the execution was fixed far 
enough ahead to enable his parents to visit him. After their 
sorrowful departure, the soldier excavated a subterranean 
tunnel beneath 13th street, coming out on Lot No. 6, Block 
62, just east of 13th, beneath a little wooden kitchen, then 
about 70 feet southwest from Washington Street. His pres- 
ence was discovered and Lieut. John S. Mansur, officer of the 
day, recaptured him. Shortly afterwards he was hanged 
from the same gallows which served for the three Mexicans 
before referred to. 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 117 

During the year 1880, Quirino Caitan, while drunk, at a 
characteristic fandango, murdered another Mexican. He 
was captured, convicted, and then duly executed by hanging 
on July 18, 1882, on a scaffold erected near the present St. 
L. B. & M. passenger depot. 

Sometime after the killing of the Austins near Sebastian, 
^which occurred on August 6, Jose Buenrostro and Melquiades 
Chapa were arrested for other offenses. When confronted 
by persons who had been present at the time when the Aus- 
tins were taken prisoners on the day of their execution by 
the Mexican bandits, Buenrostro and Chapa were identified 
as participants in the killing. They were tried, convicted, 
and duly hanged in the yard of the new Cameron County 
jail at Brownsville, on May 19, 1916. 

LYNCHINGS AND EXECUTIONS WITHOUT 
PROCESS OF LAW 

After the defeat of Cortina at Rio Grande city in Decem- 
ber, 1859 or thereabouts, three Mexicans suspected of having 
participated in his raid, were captured near Rio Grande City 
by the American authorities and brought to Brownsville. 
They were hanged to an old tree which in those days stood on 
Levee Street, between 10th and 11th. 

About 1862, a Mexican shoemaker who had just murdered 
his wife, was arrested by Judge E. P. McLane, then Justice 
of the Peace. Near the corner of 11th and Washington, 
directly opposite to Lot No. 12, Block No. 65 while McLane 
was conducting the prisoner to the Market House, the latter 
suddenly turned upon him and plunged a long knife into his 
breast, inflicting a wound which produced death within half 
an hour. The Mexican was captured by a mob and rushed to 
the old tree in front of McAllen's on Levee Street, and 



iiS A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

there strung up. The leaders of the mob compelled every 
American present to participate in the hanging. While 
hanging but just before his pulse had ceased to beat, a 
stranger with flowing cape and slouched hat, embraced the 
body and lifting his own feet from the ground so as to throw 
greater weight on the murderer, muttered, "That's the way 
we used to do them in Californy." 

Politics and its effect on the ignorant Mexican voter has 
been productive of much evil on the Rio Grande. In fact, 
to its door may be laid 80 per cent of the crimes committed 
since the local county factions appropriated the names "Colo- 
rados" (Reds) and "Azules" (Blues). The average ignorant 
Mexican voter never forgets his colors; the thought of them 
permeates his commercial, domestic, and social life. He is 
a red or blue every day and every hour of the year. 

This idea and the spirit of political patriotism stimulated 
Carlos Guillen, loyal Blue, to shoot and instantly kill Samuel 
Cobb, Blue jailor, and Felipe Cobb, Blue Constable, on April 
5, 1898. The Cobbs had deflected from the Blue path in the 
local city election and as a result considerable animosity 
was aroused. 

Guillen relied on the protection of his party, so did not 
flee the city. He was arrested and thrown in jail, A mob 
of citizens. Blues and Reds, rushed the jail and through the 
iron latticed cage shot Guillen to death. 

EXPLOSION AND FIRE 

October 23, 1857, fire broke out in the Phelps and Galvan 
general store. Lot No. 9, on Levee Street, between 12th and 
13th, Brownsville. As the citizens and members of the 
bucket brigade reached the scene, a terrific explosion took 
place, killing John North and Mr. Abram Isaacs. The fire 
crossed the alley and razed everything on lots Nos. 5, 6, and 7, 
to Elizabeth on the two lots facing the latter street. 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 119 

Reference has already been made to the fire and explosion 
on November 3, 1863, when General Bee set fire to Ft. Brown. 

During 1908, two of the large wooden structures which 
had served as barracks for the soldiers in Ft. Brown since 
1868 were destroyed by fire. The first of these was situated 
not far from the garrison gate on Elizabeth Street; the second 
just northeast. 

No cause for the fire was discovered. It was from the 
house just east of the gate that the negroes were alleged 
to have fired into Brownsville buildings in August, 1906. 

RAIDS ON AND IN BROWNSVILLE 

Before referring to the raids on the City of Brownsville, 
we desire to mention an Indian raid which occurred just ten 
miles north of the city. In December, 1848, and up to May 
14, 1849, Indians, or Mexicans disguised as such, depredated 
in the lower border on .the Texas side of the Rio Grande. 
On May 10, 1849, Israel B. Bigelow, Judg^ of the County 
Court of Cameron County, Texas, wrote to Gen. Francisco 
Avalos, then in command at Matamoros, requesting the latter 
to send some troops of Mexican cavalry to the Texas side 
to assist In repelling or capturing a band of Indians who 
were, at the time of writing, robbing and killing in the 
vicinity of Palo Alto. General Avalos answered that he 
would be willing to do so but that consent of the American 
Federal government should first be obtained. Judge Bigelow 
answered that the commander of the Federal troops had 
refused to act. In the meantime, fearing an attack on the 
city, the few American and Mexkan families moved to Mata- 
moros, leaving but sixty-two Americans and Mexicans in 
Brownsville. The Indians, however, came no further south. 
It was alleged that they were of the Comanche tribe. 



120 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

On October 9, 1865, at about 9 o'clock, a mutiny broke 
out among the negro soldiers in Brownsville. Having noth- 
ing but tents in which to live, suffering from mosquito pests, 
and finally chilled by a cold northern which had sprung up 
on the Saturday following, the negroes first entered a saloon 
on market square and there killed the proprietor. Then 
they rushed in parties through the city in quest of clothing, 
blankets, or lumber with which to protect their bodies from 
the cold. On the corner of 8th and Elizabeth the Dalzell 
house was in course of construction. They pounced on the 
lumber there. William H. Putegnat in an effort to drive 
them off was attacked and severely wounded by a bayonet 
thrust on the forehead. Several Mexicans were killed. The 
negroes, about 60, ultimately returned to their quarters unmo- 
lested. 

During the month of October, 1873, while the two political 
factions, the Reds and Blues, were participating in the cus- 
tomary vote-catching bailes (dances), one at the Rio Grande 
Railroad depot %nd the other at the city market square, 32 
recruits who had arrived two weeks prior thereto, to fill the 
gaps in the U. S. Army then stationed at Ft. Brown, crept 
down the alley between Washington and Adams Streets, 
Brownsville, to the intersection of 13th. From there they 
marched to Adams where they at once engaged in a gun 
fight with about an equal number of Mexicans styling them- 
selves "Charramusqueros" (vendors of molasses candy). 
Two of the soldiers were " badly wounded. One of the 
Mexicans was seriously wounded. No deaths. 

About a week before the fight the badly mutilated body 
of a recruit had been found lying in old Washington Square, 
near what is now the north ^^fng of the Grammar School. The 
recruits attributed this man's death to the candy vendors 
who at that time were quite numerous. 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 121 

On August 13, 1906, several shots were fired into the two- 
story frame dwelling situated on the southwest corner of 
the block at the foot of Elizabeth Street where it enters the 
garrison gate. These shots, it was afterwards proved, had 
come from one of the two-story barracks inside the garrison, 
about 200 feet southeast of the gate (one of the buildings 
which were destroyed by fire in 1908). Immediately after- 
wards a number of negro soldiers of the 25th U. S. Infantry, 
then on duty at Fort Brown, jumped the brick fence surround- 
ing the garrison, ran to the alley between Elizabeth and Wash- 
ington, thence northward to the corner of 14th and the alley, 
where they deliberately fired into the Cowen residence on 
that corner, which, half an hour before had been crowded 
with merrymakers, little girls aged between 9 and 14. No 
one hurt at that place. The negroes then proceeded up the 
alley, firing on Miller's Hotel as they passed, and at a place 
between 12th and 13th Streets, fired upon and killed a young 
man named Natus as he was coming out of the alley door 
of his place of business. They then circled the northeast 
half of that block, fired into the house of Fred Starck on the 
northeast sidf of Wa,shington Street where his wife and 
young children were asleep. Then they turned down 13th 
Street toward the river and meeting Joe Dominguez, the City 
Marshal, fired at him, killing his horse and wounding him 
in the arm so that it was afterwards necessary to amputate 
same. 

President Roosevelt ordered a Board of Inquiry, and at the 
same time, decreed that unless the guilty one should surren- 
der within thirty days, every soldier in the battalion should 
be dismissed without honor. The entire command was mus- 
tered out, but later, several proved an alibi and those who 
had a good past record, who thus established the alibi, were 
reinstated. 



122 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

(Omitted and inserted here out of its chronological order): 
Laredo, Webb County, Texas: 

During May, 1876, U. S. Commercial Agent, James J. 
Haynes, New Laredo, Mexico, opposite Laredo, Texas, 
reported to Maj. H. C. Merriam, in command of the 24th U. S. 
Infantry, then stationed at Fort Mcintosh (Laredo), Texas, 
that he had been informed that one, Benavides, a Mexican, 
at the head of sixty freebooters, would attack New Laredo, 
Mexico, to loot the place, and with the avowed intention to 
kill him, Haynes. Major Merriam requested Haynes to have 
boats ready on the Texas side at dark that night. At about 8 
p. M. Major Merriam, with about 100 U. S. Infantrymen 
crossed over to New Laredo, where he remained for eight 
days, until there no longer existed a necessity for him to 
remain there. No attack was made. 

During February, 1878, Colonel Alexander of the 7th U. S. 
Cavalry pursued a band of cow-thieves into Mexico at the 
place called "Capote" nearly opposite to what is known as 
Landrum's Las Flores ranch, 19 miles west of Brownsville. 
Cipriano Flores, Victor Gonzales, and Rafael Riojas, Mexi- 
cans, were shot, one by Lieutenant Butt of Hagerstown, Me., 
and the others by U. S. soldiers, as the Mexicans emerged 
from the river on the Mexican side. Colonel Lozano, the 
Mexican commander at Matamoros, cooperated with the 
Americans and afterwards hanged the 3 bodies at Rancho 
Sierra Mojada, leaving them there as object lessons. 

NAVIGATION OF RIO GRANDE 

There is no authentic data of any boats plying the Rio 
Grande until Taylor's arrival in 1846, although the archives 
in Mexico show that the Mexican congress on April 28, 1828, 
granted a concession to John Davis Bradburn and Stephen 
H. C. T>. Staples to introduce on the Rio Grande boats pro- 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 123 

pelled by steam or horse-power. This Bradburn is the same 
who afterwards was accused of oppressing the Texan Colo- 
nists to a degree which caused them to rise in rebellion and 
make the efifort for independence. Bradburn is buried on 
the hill three miles south of Mission on which is now built 
the Oblate Fathers' Theological Seminary. 

During the month of June, 1846, while General Taylor was 
still encamped on the Lower Border, Maj, John Saunders, an 
engineer in the U. S. Army, employed Mifflin Kenedy, an 
experienced seaman, to assist him in his work of selecting 
suitable boats for Rio Grande river traffic. Major Saunders 
purchased the steamboats Corvette, Colonel Cross, Major Brown, 
and Whiteville which, under Captain Kenedy's guidance were 
brought to the Rio Grande and rendered valuable service in 
transporting General Taylor and his staff to Ringgold Barracks. 
Afterwards M. Kenedy & Company, of Brownsville brought out 
^the steamboats Comanche, Grampus, Alamo, Rancher 0, Camargo, 
Paisano, Matamoros No. i, Matamoros No. 2, and numerous 
others. Later the John Scott, San Roman, Sellers, Alice, Jesse B, 
Eugenia, Antonia, and others were introduced. All of the boats 
mentioned served in the Rio Grande, and most of them still 
lie in the river. The Corvette, which transported General 
Taylor, lies in the bed of the river about 500 yards west of 
the International bridge where her ribs may be seen during 
low water. Three of the old timers were sunk just about 
where the present St. L. B. & M. Ry. is constructed, and they 
proved of another and important secondary service in pre- 
venting the encroachments of the river and serving as a shield 
for the bank against its fierce floods during high water. 
These boats were all used as freighters between Brownsville 
and the mouth of the river; and those of sufficiently light 
draught as far as Ringgold Barracks. 




LOUIS COBOLINI 
LOUIS COBOLINI, whose photograph appears herein, was born on 
December 13, 1846, in Capodistria, Austria. He landed in the United 
States and State of Texas, August 17, 1867. Came to Brownsville first in 
1874 as Captain of the Schooner Henry Willianus. Moved to Browns- 
ville June 15, 1907. From the day of his arrival he has been a firm believer 
in and a conscientious hard worker for deep water on the Brazos de 
Santiago bar, and has given his best efforts to the attainment of deep water. 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 125 

During the year 1876, some controversy having arisen with 
Mexico over the numerous depredations that had been made 
by Mexicans from Mexico on Texas soil, and an American 
named Cutting, who had been arrested and thrown into prison 
at Ciudad Juarez opposite El Paso, Uncle Sam dispatched 
to Fort Brown, via the Gulf of Mexico and the Rio Grande, 
the 4th-class TUB, U. S. S. Rio Bravo, converted into a 4th- 
class warship. Upon her infant trip to Santa Maria, 26 miles 
west of Brownsville by land but about 100 miles via the 
crooked river, she blew up one of her boilers (directly 
beneath the office of the author who was serving as Ship's 
Yeoman) and unable to proceed, availed herself of the extra- 
ordinarily high stage of the river and floated back. After 
remaining tied to the Texas side of the Rio Grande, directly 
in front of the quartermaster's building in Fort Brown, she 
was sunk about four hundred yards south, her hull to act as a 
breakwater. During a low stage of the river her skeleton 
may yet be seen. 

For many years prior to 1872, the water on the bar at the 
mouth of the Rio Grande had been so shallow that all freight 
had been brought in through Brazos de Santiago Pass, where 
at all times there has been not less than 9 feet, and sometimes 
as many as 12 feet. At Brazos all boats drawing more than 
5 feet were unloaded and their cargoes transported to Point 
Isabel from whence they would be shipped by wagon to 
Brownsville. 

During the year 1872 the little Rio Grande Railroad was 
completed and for a while it transported all freight from the 
Point; but finally, claiming they were compelled to pay 
excessive rates for such a short haul, enterprising citizens of 
Brownsville and Matamoros reestablished the old time "FAST 
FREIGHT" wagon transportation in competition with the 
railroad. 



126 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

However, all freight, prior to 1872, would come via Brazos 
or the mouth of the river, where Clarksville then nestled in 
the sandhills. 

After the yellow fever epidemic of 1882 which ravaged 
Brownsville and Matamoros, the Lower Valley became 
isolated from the rest of the United States, and became an 
independent republic in itself. 

From 1882 to 1904 but little was known of this historical 
country, though occasionally in the daily press of the State 
one would read "The Steamship Manteo" or the "Tugboat 
Luzon" had just arrived from Brazos. These two light 
draught steamers supplied the Valley with its all. 

Another factor which assisted to change the tide of trans- 
portation was the construction of a railroad from Corpus 
Christi to Laredo and thence to Monterrey where it con- 
nected with the main line of the Mexican National, running 
south to Mexico. 

Up to 1882, Brazos had been the port of entry for not only 
the Valley supplies but for all goods destined as far northwest 
and west as the States of Chihuahua, Durango, Zacatecas. 
When the new railroads were put into operation, there being 
no railroad from Brownsville to Monterrey, water traffic to 
Brazos, except for local supplies for the Lower Valley, became 
practically dead. 

Prior to 1882, the Gulf of Mexico, off Brazos de Santiago 
and the mouth of the Rio Grande was constantly speckled 
with large and small steamships from all points of the globe. 
It was not uncommon to see from thirty to forty large steam- 
ships each month. During the years 1861 to 1867, frequently 
more than 200 vessels were off the mouth of the river. At 
Matamoros, large wagons capable of stowing six or eight 
tons, drawn by from 10 to 20 animals were common sights; 
while the principal plaza of Matamoros, Arreros, was usually 
packed with these large wagons. All of this was changed 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 127 

when quick railroad transportation cut off Brownsville. So, 
it was not until 1905, when the Mexican National completed 
its line to Matamoros from Monterrey that once more 
Brownsville took her place as a port of entry. 

In June, 1904, the St. L. B. & M. Railroad completed its 
line to Brownsville. Not long afterwards it was discovered 
that in an obscure corner of the U. S. Treasury there remained 
a small balance due to the Brazos de Santiago Harbor 
Improvement fund, left' over from an appropriation which had 
been made and almost all expended in 1882 in an effort to 
deepen the Brazos bar. This fund was resurrected, the 
amount, $58,000 was promptly thrown into the pockets of 
the dredge company which, in turn, excavated $58,000 of 
dirt and dumped it at other places in the bay from where it 
(the first) soon found its way back to its original bed. As 
an additional stimulus to direct the dirt back to its home, 
the LUZON was permitted to sink at the end of the little 
wharf, to form a nucleus for a bar from whence the channel 
might fill. 

Brazos de Santiago bar and the once-busy little towns 
within three miles of it, are now deserted. During the year 
1876, the Steamship Wm. G. Hughes of the Morgan Line 
pulled over the bar drawing 11 feet. She struck the bar at 
first because there were but 10 feet 7 inches, but eventually 
she worked in. 

An ideal harbor might be made out of the basin just west 
of Brazos, Clarks' and Dyers' islands where for a space of 
three miles north to south, and one and a half miles east to 
west, exists a natural basin which with dredging would 
anchor many tons of shipping. 



CHAPTER XIII 

With the completion of the St. Louis, Brownsville, and 
Mexico Railroad to Brownsville, during June, 1904, the wave 
of prosperity struck the Valley. The rich fertility of the 
soil, surplus of river water for irrigating purposes, temperate 
climate, and wonderfully healthful conditions have proven 
natural attractions. Lands which fifteen years ago were 
selling at from one to two dollars an acre are now" selling, 
with an excess of buyers, at from $100 to $500 per 
acre. Thousands of homeseekers desiring a milder climate 
than that of the frozen north, have settled within the terri- 
tor}'- between Mission and Brownsville, and Kingsville and 
Brownsville. As these homeseekers became fixed in the 
Valley, they have built up many towns, some of which are: 

Kingsville, Kleberg County, Texas: 

One hundred nineteen miles north from Brownsville, on 
St. L. B. & M. Ry. First building in 1904. Present popula- 
tion about 3,000. General ofifices for St. L. B. & M. Ry. and 
division of railroad. Roundhouse and machine shops. Banks, 
hotels, numerous commercial houses. Telephone system. 
Electric light system, water works. Modern school buildings. 
ALso county site. 
Santa Gertruuis, Kleberg County, Texas : 

Three miles west from Kingsville. Palatial Mansion of 
Mrs. H. M. King, widow of Richard King, who accompanied 
Taylor's boats in 1846. Great cattle ranch of about 1,250,000 
acres under control of Robert J. Kleberg, son-in-law of Mrs. 
King, and Caesar Kleberg, nephew of Robert J. Modern 
conveniences. 

Sarita, Willacy County, Texas: 

Ninety-seven miles north from Brownsville, on St. L. B. 
& M. Ry. Established 1904. Present population about 300. 
Hotel, commercial houses. Telephone. Also county site. 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 129 

Rancho La Parra, Willacy County (formerly of Cameron 

CountjO, Texas : 

Six niiles west from Sarita. This is the home site of The 
Kenedy Pasture Company, owned and controlled by Mr. 
John G. Kenedy, surviving son of Mifflin Kenedy, who 
transported General Taylor and staff from Brownsville to 
Rio Grande City. Private electric lighting system, water- 
works, precooling plant, and telephone. The Mexicans built 
a ranch near La Parra in 1825. Great cattle ranch of about 
400,000 acres. 

Armstrong, Willacy County, Texas: 

Seventy-seven miles north from Brownsville. Station 
built in 1904. Population about 15. Named after Capt. John 
B. Armstrong, deceased, whose ranchhouse is two miles east 
of station. Stock ranch, about 100,000 acres, under man- 
agement and control of Chas. B. and Thomas Armstrong, 
sons of Capt. John B. Armstrong. 

Raymondville, Cameron County, Texas : 

Forty-six miles north from Brownsville, on the main line 
of the St. L. B. & M. Ry. First house built in 1904. Present 
population about 1000. Dry-farming proposition. Good soil. 
Has bank, hotel, telephone, and numerous commercial houses. 

Lyford, Cameron County, Texas : 

Forty miles north from Brownsville, on main line. First 
house built 1904. Present population about 1000. Dry-farm- 
ing proposition. Bank, hotel, telephone, and numerous com- 
mercial houses. 

Sebastian, Cameron County, Texas : • 

Thirty-seven miles north from Brownsville, on main line. 
First house 1906. Present population about 100. 



130 ^ Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

Harlingen, Cameron County, Texas: 

Twenty-five miles north from Brownsville, junction for 
main line and branch line to Samfordyce. First house, 1905. 
Present population about 600. Irrigation proposition, own- 
ing its own canal. Bank, three hotels, numerous commercial 
houses. Telephone system. Sugar-cane and sugar-mill 
nearby. 

San BiiMiTC, Cameron County, Texas: 

Twenty miles north from Brownsville, on main line. Also 
headquarters for San Benito & Valley Railway which runs to 
Santa Maria, about 14 miles west on military or river high- 
way. First house, 1907. Present population about 2,500. 
Two banks, numerous hotels, and commercial houses. Tele- 
phone system. Sugar-mill and various factories. Irrigation 
system, water pumped from river into old resaca (dry river 
bed) about 200 feet wide, from which, by gravity, immense 
acreage irrigated. Is a center for commercial traffic — large 
territory. This town built through energy of Sam Robertson 
and Alba Heywood. 

Olmito, Cameron County, Texas: 

Nine miles north from Brownsville, on main line. First 
house, 1905. Present population less than SO. Great cotton 
center. No irrigation except pumping from nearby estero 
(lake in old river bed). 

La Feria, Cameron County, Texas : 

Thirty-two miles northwest from Brownsville, and seven 
west from Harlingen. First house about 1908. Present 
population about 800. Bank, hotel, telephone, numerous 
commercial houses. Irrigation system owned by corporation 
which owns town site. On Samfordyce branch line. 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 131 

Mercedes, Hidalgo County, Texas : 

Forty miles northwest from Brownsville and fifteen west 
from Harlingen on Samfordyce branch line. First house 
about 1905. Present population about 2,000. Two banks, 
numerous hotels, and commercial houses. Magnificent irri- 
gation system. Electric lighting plant. Its pumping plant, 
about five miles south on banks of Rio Grande, equal to any 
in the United States. Most beautiful and sanitary town in 
Valley and an ideal home during winter and summer. Clean 
in politics. Good schools. Surrounding country well settled. 

Llano Grande, Hidalgo County, Texas : 

Forty-three miles northwest from Brownsville. No town 
nor improvements other than large commodious two-story 
building constructed about 1905. At present about 12,000 
U. S. soldiers encamped there. No irrigation system, but 
im.mense lake about two miles south from railroad. 

Donna, Hidalgo County, Texas: 

Forty-nine miles northwest from Brownsville on branch 
line. First house, 1906. Present population about 800. Irri- 
gation system. Banks, hotels, telephone. Sugar-mill about 
one mile south, 
San Juan, Hidalgo County, Texas : 

Fifty-five miles northwest of Brownsville on branch 
line. Is junction for short line to Edinburg, nine miles north. 
First house, 1907. Present population about 500. Irrigation. 
Bank, hotel, telephone, and modern schools. 

Edinburg, Hidalgo County, Texas : 

Nine miles north from San Juan and 64 miles northwest 
from Brownsville. Established as county site in 1908. Pres- 
ent population about 900. Courthouse completed 1911. Irri- 
gation system. Bank, hotel, numerous commercial houses. 
Telephone. Modern school buildings. 



132 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

Phakr, Hidalgo County, Texas : 

Fifty-eight miles northwest from Brownsville, on branch 
line. First building, 1911. Present population, 600. Irriga- 
tion system. Bank, hotel, numerous commercial houses, and 
modern school buildings. 

McAllen, Hidalgo County, Texas : 

Sixty miles northwest from Brownsville, on branch line. 
First building, 1905. Present population about 2,000. Irriga- 
tion system. Banks, hotels, numerous commercial houses. 
Telephone. Modern school buildings. Hidalgo on the Rio 
Grande lies seven miles south. 

Mission, Hidalgo County, Texas : 

Sixty-five miles northwest from Brownsville, on branch 
line. First building, 1907. Present population about 2,500. 
Irrigation system. Banks, hotels, numerous commercial 
houses. Modern school buildings. 18,000 acres in cultiva- 
tion. Is supply base for all ranches up to Samfordyce, on 
the west, and Hidalgo on southeast. Three miles south is 
old La Lomita mission and Theological Seminary of Oblate 
Fathers. 

Hidalgo, Hidalgo County, Texas : 

Fifty-eight miles from Brownsville by Military or River 
Highway. A few commercial houses and telephone. Main- 
tains branches of the immigration and customs service. First 
inhabited as early as 1774 while Mexico under dominion of 
Spain. Until county site removed to Edinburg in 1908 
Hidalgo was the most important town along the Rio Grande 
between Brownsville and Rio Grande City. In January, 1852, 
was county site of Plidalgo County and remained as such 
until 1908. For many years was maintained as camp for 
U. S. troops. Present population about 1,000. Modern school 
building. No bank nor hotel. 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 133 

Rio Grande City, Starr County, Texas : 

Ohe hundred and five miles northwest from Brownsville, on 
Military or River Highway. Altitude, 521 feet above sea level. 
Twenty-one miles west from Samfordyce which is 80 miles from 
Brownsville. Present population, about 3,000. Is the county site 
for Starr County. Maintains customs and immigration service. 
Banks, hotels, and numerous commercial houses. Largest town 
between Brownsville and Laredo. Is the supply base for the 
territory west as far as Roma (14 miles) and for most of the 
country in Tamaulipas, Mexico, adjacent to the Rio Grande. Its 
east line is but two hundred yards from the west line of Fort 
Ringgold. Courthouse on high gravel hill and overlooks valley 
for many miles in all directions. From this hill may be seen 
the Sierra Madre ridge of mountains even those surrounding 
Monterrey. The mountains at Cerralvo, Mexico,, 45 miles distant, 
present beautiful landscape. 

Rio Grande, sometimes called "Rancho Davis" in honor of 
Henry Clay Davis, one of the first American settlers in 1845, was 
a ranch as far back as 1767 when the early settlers of Camargo, 
directly opposite on the Mexican side of the river, recognized 
the value of the unusual elevation. No rail communication, but 
maintains telephone. All freight hauled by ox-wagons. Was 
incorporated January 10, 1850. 

Fort Ringgold, Starr County, Texas : 

One hundred and five miles northwest from Brownsville. 
Altitude, 521 feet above sea level. Established October 26, 1848, 
at Davis' landing by Capt. J. H. La Motte, ist U. S. Infantry. 
Named in honor of Brevet-Major David Ringgold, 4th U. S. 
Artillery, killed at Palo Alto. On July 16, 1849, name changed 
to Ringgold Barracks. Troops were withdrawn March 3, 1859, 
and post remained vacant until December 29, 1859, two days after 
defeat of Cortina by Heintzelman. Was abandoned in 1861 and 
reoccupied by U. S. troops in June, 1865. Gen. Robert E. Lee 



134 ^ Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

was stationed at Ringgold during the Cortina troubles about 1858 
and while he was there the old post was built of lumber and logs. 

Camargo, Tamaulipas, is five miles distant from Ringgold but 
on the Mexican side. 

Ringgold Barracks is on a hill overlooking the Valley and the 
reservation consists of about 150 acres which the government 
purchased in 1873. The new post where it now stands was begun 
in 1869 and finished in 1875. Abandoned again in 1907 but 
reestablished 1912. 

Roma, Starr County, Texas : 

One hundred and nineteen miles northwest from Brownsville. 
Roma was founded in 1848. It is situated just 14 miles west from 
Rio Grande City, or say 119 miles west from Brownsville. 
Present population, 500. Before the American occupation it was 
also known as the Garcia Ranch. On banks of Rio Grande. 
Nearly opposite to Mier which is on the Mexican side. 

Zapata, Zapata County, Texas : 

About 158 miJes west from Brownsville, on Military or River 
Highway. Sixty miles east from Laredo. First established about 
1770. For many years known as Carrizo. No banks or hotels. 
County site with courthouse. Military telephone to Laredo. 
Present population about 200. On banks Rio Grande nearly 
opposite to Guerrero which is on Mexican side. 

San Ygnacio, Zapata County, Texas : 

About 178 miles west from Brownsville on Military Highway. 
First established about 1790. Present population about 500. On 
banks of Rio Grande. 

Monte Cristo, Hidalgo County, Texas: 

About 10 miles north of Mission. First house, 1909. Present 
population about 100. Terminus of branch railroad line from 
Mission. 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 135 

Progreso, Hidalgo County, Texas : 

About 42 miles west from Brownsville. Mexicans and 
Spaniards inhabited as early as 1836, under name of Toluca. 
Present population, 50. 

Santa Maria, Cameron County, Texas : 

About 26 miles west from Brownsville. First houses, 1780. 
First house of new town, 1872. Present population about 200. 
Terminus of San Benito railroad. Hotel. 

MEXICAN SIDE OF RIO GRANDE 

Guerrero, Tamaulipas, Mexico : 

About a mile south of Rio Grande, opposite to Zapata. 
Founded in 1750 by Spaniards under name REVILLA. Present 
population less than 1,000. Narrow streets, houses touching 
sidewalks. No modern conveniences. 

MiER, Tamaulipas, Mexico: 

About three miles west from Rio Grande, and same distance 
from Roma. Founded 1753 by Spaniards. Present population 
about 1,500. Typical Mexican town. No modern conveniences. 
Here was fought the battle between Americans under Ewin 
Cameron and Thomas Green in 1842, known as MIER EXPEDI- 
TION. 

Camargo, Tamaulipas, Mexico: 

About three miles from Rio Grande but the San Juan River 
runs through the city. Is three miles from Rio Grande City. 
Typical Mexican town. Suffered from great overflows in 1905 
and 1910. Present population about 1,000. Mexican National 
Railroad passes two miles south. Founded 1749 by Spaniards. 

Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico: 

On Rio Grande directly opposite to Hidalgo, Texas. Founded 
in 1749. Typical Mexican town. Present population about 800. 
Mexican National Railroad passes through town. 




u < 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 137 

Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico : 

On Rio Grande directly opposite to Brownsville, Texas. A 
small congregation of loyal Catholic subjects maintained religious 
services in a ranch house as early as 1765 and called the place 
San Juan de los Esteros. In 1796 it was given the name "Con- 
gregation del Refugio." In 1821 it was organized as a village 
and called Matamoros, in commemoration of the priest, Mariano 
Matamoros, who had been executed by the Spaniards while 
serving in the ranks of the Mexicans who were then battling 
for independence. Present population about 2,000. During 
"COTTON TIMES" when all the cotton from the Southern 
States of the United States was being brought to neutral Mexico, 
while the Federal and Confederate armies were fighting, the 
population of Matamoros at times was about 40,000. After the 
Civil War in the United States it gradually diminished, and in' 
1882, when the yellow fever swept the border, it decreased to 
about 6,000, its normal figure. 

The Catholic church situated on the Plaza La Capilla, on 
Tenth Street between Morelos and Guerrero, was built in 1842 
by private subscription. 

The Cathedral on Plaza de Armas, was begun in 1825 but not 
finished until 1831. 

The Protestant church on Plaza de Arrieros was built by 
the Society of Friends in 1876. 

The Protestant church on Morelos between 5th and 6th Streets 
was built in 1866. 

The town plat was arranged in 1823, but the fortifications 
which surround the city were planned by Mejia in 1865. These 
fortifications were remodeled and reenforced by General Nafar- 
rate in 1915, when General Jose Rodriguez attempted to storm 
the city. 

The street railway was constructed and began operating during 
the year 1872. The owners and builders, Francisco Armendiaz 
and brother. 



138 ^ Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

The first 75 miles of the Mexican National Railway from 
Matamoros to San Miguel de las Cuevas, was constructed and 
operated in 1881-1882. During July, 1904, work was begun at 
Monterrey on the connecting link which later in the same year 
created a through line from Matamoros to Monterrey. 

The electric light plant was constructed and put into opera- 
tion during 1907, Dr. Miguel Barragan being the promoter and 
builder. 

The Casamata (casemate or arsenal) was constructed in 
1865. It has been used as an arsenal ever since, but against its 
north walls many political prisoners have been shot to death. 

The old cemetery at the southwest end of the town was first 
used in 1832. It is still used by those who have relatives buried 
there. In its southwest corner is the bone pile wherein are 
cast the bones of those whose relatives have failed to pay the 
annual tax or those who have long since been forgotten. The 
bones taken from the graves and scattered in the bone pile 
where the sun may shine on them and the vultures strip them 
of any flesh. 

The opera house, opposite U. S. Consulate, was built in 1864. 
VALLEY COUNTIES 

Immediately after the concluding of the Treaty of Guadalupe, 
at Queretaro, Mexico, February 2, 1848, the new territory 
acquired being that from the Nueces River south and south- 
west and north of the Rio Grande, was made a part of Nueces 
County, Texas, which had been created in 1846. 

Webb County : Thereafter, on January 28, 1848, was created 
and organized out of Nueces County; 

Starjr County: Thereafter, on February 10, 1848, was created 
and organized out of Nueces County; named after J. H. Starr. 

Cameron County : Thereafter, on February 12, 1848, was 
created and organized out of Nueces County, with an area of 
3,308 square miles, with its county site at Santa Rita (near San 
Benito pumping plant). Named after Ewin Cameron. 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 139 

Zapata County: Thereafter, in February, 1851, was created 
and organized out of Webb and Starr Counties; and 

Hidalgo County : Thereafter, on January 24, 1852, was created 
and organized, with an area of 2,356 square miles, out of Starr 
and Cameron Counties. 

Willacy County: In January, 1912, was created and 
organized out of Cameron, about 200 square miles; Hidalgo, 
about 700 square miles; Starr, about 100 square miles. 

BROWNSVILLE, FORT BROWN. POINT ISABEL, AND 
BRAZOS DE SANTIAGO 

Brownsville : 

When Taylor marched to the Rio Grande he found the ter- 
ritory embraced in the Brownsville town site, a beautiful garden. 
The Mexicans had the river front under cultivation and wonder- 
ful flower gardens bedecked the spot, while the fields flourished 
with corn and bean crops. After the invasion by Taylor, the 
Mexicans were timorous and many neglected or abandoned 
entirely their fields. Shortly afterwards the town of SHANNON- 
DALE was started just north of the present international bridge. 
At Shannondale the first house owned by Americans was con- 
structed. The ever shifting channel of the Rio Grande cut that 
town site away many years ago. 

The town site of Brownsville includes the present waterworks 
plant and runs thence east in a straight line just south of the 
West Brownsville Lake to a point on the Point Isabel Highway; 
thence south to the garrison fence. 

The first house built in Brownsville still stands on the north- 
east corner of Levee where it is intersected by 12th Street. It 
was the property of C. Stillman, one of the founders. 

Brownsville was incorporated by act of January 24, 1850; 
the act of incorporation repealed March i, 1852, effective April i, 
1852. Incorporated again February 7, 1853 ; amended February 3, 
1854, and again February 8, i860, and again January 23, 1874. 



I40 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

Federal Building: Corner Elizabeth and loth Streets, was 
completed and occupied by postoffice and custom-house, Novem- 
ber I, 1892. 

The restoration and rehabilitation of Fort Brown, which was 
destroyed in November, 1863, was begun in 1868 when all of the 
buildings now in the garrison were constructed excepting the 
gymnasium and new brick building on the east side of the lake. 
The gymnasium and brick building were built in 1906. 



The first telegraphic communication between Brownsville and 
the outside world was on May i, 1871, when the Western Union 
wires were brought into Brownsville from Corpus Christi. The 
little Rio Grande Railroad strung its wires from Brownsville 
to Point Isabel at about the same time. A line was also built 
from Brownsville along the Rio Grande to Brazos de Santiago. 



The old Courthouse, now Masonic Temple, was built in 1886. 
The new Courthouse was built in 1912. 

The Rio Grande Railroad from Brownsville to Point Isabel, 
twenty-one miles distant, was completed in 1872. It is a narrow 
gauge with a roadbed of mesquite ties, some of the original ties 
still being used. Until 1882 this little road transported to Browns- 
ville nearly every pound of freight destined to Monterrey, Zaca- 
tecas, Chihuahua, and Northern Mexico. 

The Mexican Catholic Church on 12th Street was first occu- 
pied in June, 1859, though its construction was started in 1854 
by Father Peter Kalum. 

The Episcopal Church was completed in 1854 but was blown 
down during the storm of October, 1867. The new building was 
completed February 11, 1877. 

From 1856 to 1892, the Methodists held their services in a 
little box house on the lot now occupied by the Federal Post- 
office building. The present Methodist Church, corner of loth 
and Washington Streets, was completed in 1909. 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 141 

The Presbyterian Church, on EHzabeth Street, corner of 9th, 
was completed in 1864. 

The Baptist Church, Elizabeth Street, corner of 8th, was com- 
pleted in 1908. 

The Catholic Cathedral, Elizabeth Street, corner of 6th, was 
completed during 1912. 

The Convent of the Incarnate Word, St. Charles Street, 
between 7th and 8th, was completed in November, 1853. 

The Presbyterian Mission School, Washington Street, between 
loth and nth, was completed in 1864. 

The Presbyterian Church for Mexicans, Adams Street, between 
6th and 7th, was completed during 1913. 

St. Joseph's Catholic College for Boys, Elizabeth Street,, 
between 6th and 7th, was built in 1867. 

Telephone system introduced into Brownsville, 1904. Electric 
lighting system and waterworks inaugurated in 1908. Sewerage 
system established in 1908. Brownsville owns its own electric 
lighting system, waterworks, and sewerage system. 

City Market, between Washington and Jefferson Streets, and 
nth and 12th Streets, was built in 1862. Remodeled, 1912. 

Block paving laid on principal streets during 1912, Graveled 
streets, 1916. 

Grammar school, fronting on 9th and Jefferson Streets, built 
in 1891. 

New county jail, on 12th Street, was built in 1912. 

Old cemetery, directly northeast of new courthouse, between 
nth and 12th Streets, first used in 1848. Abandoned, 1864. New 
cemetery, between 4th and 6th, first used in 1863. 

The International Bridge across the Rio Grande completed 
in 1909. Prior to its construction, passengers and freight crossed 
the river in ferry-boats, propelled by poles or oars. 

First train into Brownsville over St. L. B. &,M. Ry. in June, 
1904. 



142 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

First newspaper, the American Flag, published by James 
Barnard in Matamoros, Mexico, in 1846. It was a semi-weekly, 
about 8 by 10 inches. 

Old Sentinel newspaper, established 1850, ceased publication 
1890. 

Ranchero established October, 1859, ceased 1876. 

Daily Herald established 1892. 

Daily Sentinel established 1910. 

New High School on Elizabeth Street completed and occupied 
September 25, 1916. 

Electric Street Railway first operated as such in December, 
1915. Was built and operated with motor cars in 1912. 

Town site of Brownsville composed of 1,584 acres. Fronts on 
Rio Grande and extends north about one and a half miles. 

Block street paving laid during 1912. 



Cholera epidemics occurred in the Lower Valley in 1843, 
1858, and 1866. 

Yellow fever epidemics occurred in the Lower Valley in 1867 
and 1882. 

Severe storms in 1858, 1867, and 1880. A severe gale visited 
Brownsville and the Valley in August, 1916. 

Brownsville experienced very light snow-storms in 1835, 1866, 
1881, and 1886. 

Brownsville now operates under a commission form of 
government. On January i, 1916, F. H. Williams, the first City 
Matiager, took charge. Under his administration Brownsville 
has enjoyed a wave of progressive upbuilding, electric lighting, 
and water systems made first-class, city sewer taken over by city, 
streets paved with gravel, and in fact, general improvements. 
During the mobilization of troops the city was enabled to w^ter 
and to provide camping sites for 10,000 soldiers. 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 143 

Fort Brown, Texas: 

The Fort Brown reservation consists of 288 acres, purchased 
by the United States from Maria Josefa Cavazos for $166,000 
which included rent from the time of Taylor's occupation until 
about 1880. The reservation is enclosed with a brick fence which 
begins on the river at the foot of 14th and 15th Streets and Levee, 
and runs northeastward about 1,200 feet; thence a wire fence 
about 1,200 feet to a corner; from this corner southeast to 
another point on the river. In the center of the reservation but 
fronting on the Rio Grande there is an island containing about 
twenty-five acres. This island was used until about 1908 as a 
national cemetery. During 1909 Gen. John L. Clem, Q. M. U. S. 
Army, removed the bones from the 2,800 graves to the National 
Cemetery at Alexandria, La. 
Point Isabel, Cameron County, Texas : 

Twenty-one miles east from Brownsville, fronting Lagoon. 
This was a Mexican village as far back as 1788. Was destroyed 
by Mexicans upon approach of General Taylor's army. Point 
Isabel was a summer resort in 1800. 

The site occupied by General Zachary Taylor while at Point 
Isabel is about half a mile northwest from the old brick light- 
house. As late as 1867 some of the houses remained standing 
and were occupied by the families of soldiers of the Civil War. 

The old brick lighthouse at Point Isabel was built during the 
year 1853. It was abandoned during the year 1906. 
Brazos de Santiago, Cameron County, Texas : 

Twenty-two miles east of Brownsville, fronting Lagoon and 
Gulf of Mexico. Was a summer resort for Mexicans and 
Spaniards as far back as 1788. Was washed away many times, 
the last in 1867. 

The lighthouse on Brazos Island was built in 1853. 
Abandoned in 1879. 

The lighthouse situated at the south point of Padre Island 
was erected in 1879, the old building which had served for that 



144 ^ Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

purpose 'SO many years having been so enveloped with the sand- 
hills that it was no longer tenable. 



The life-saving station was erected and established at Brazos 
during the year 1880, but during the severe storm that year the 
building was damaged. However, it continued to be occupied 
until the year 1908 when it was rebuilt on the bay side of Brazos 
Island almost directly opposite to the present lighthouse. 

The quarantine station on Padre Island was erected during 
1882. 

CLIMATE OF VALLEY 

The average annual rainfall in the Valley for twenty years has 
been 32 inches. In 1875 it was but 17.36 inches, while in 1886 
it was 60.06. The greatest monthly rainfall has been during 
April, June, August, and September, but the rainy season has 
varied so that no exact time may be fixed. With the exception of 
a very few years, the monthly averages for the other months have 
been: October, 4 inches; November, 2 inches; December, 1.75 
inches; January, 1.49 inches; February, 1.5 inches; March, 1.27 
inches; May, 4 inches; July, 3 inches. 

The temperature seldom goes below 32 degrees, the average 
number of days when it has been below that never being more 
than seven in any one year. During the months of December 
and January, during some of the years, the minimum temperature 
has been as low as 26 degrees and 21 degrees, respectively, but 
the average lowest daily would be about 52 or 53 during a period 
of thirty years. 

The maximum has gone as high as 98 during July but seldom. 

Five out of every twenty years have been without frosts. 
The average date of the first frost being December 24, but during 
191 1 a severe frost appeared on November 29. The. latest day 
for frost is March i. 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 145 

The prevailing wind is from the southeast during the summer 
months with an average velocity of six miles an hour. 

The northers begin about September 15, and continue until 
about March 31. From November to March the temperature 
seldom registers above 75. 



CHAPTER XIV 

Odds and Ends : 

As has been stated, limited space will not admit a detailed 
recital of many of the important border incidents. For the 
same reason it is necessary to omit even a reference to the pro- 
ductive exploits of General MacKensie, General Shafter, Lieu- 
tenant Bullis, and others of the U. S. Atmy who found it 
necessary to pursue the thieving Kickapoos, Lipanos, Comanches, 
and Caiguas, Indians who, associated with the worst element of 
the Mexicans, depredated the border even as late as 1874. 



Gen. Joe Shelby : 

But we cannot resist the temptation to refer to what is known 
as "Shelby's Expedition." 

After the last gun of the American Civil War had been 
fired, many of the brave men who had worn the grey, dis- 
heartened and, to a certain extent homeless, indifferent as to 
their future, joined JOE SHELBY'S famous "Brigade" and 
invaded Mexico at Eagle Pass. Shelby had accumulated a supply 
of arms, discarded or captured by the soldiers of both armies. 
Entering Eagle Pass he crossed the Rio Grande into Piedras 
Negras, visiting the Liberal Mexican Colonel in command at 
that place, and negotiated with him for the arms. While con- 
ferring with the Mexican Colonel, a row broke out between his 
men and some of the Liberal soldiers over the ownership of 
some of their mounts. Shelby alleged afterwards that the 
Mexicans attempted to steal his horses. Quite a battle took 
place in the very streets of Piedras Negras. With a large white 
sheet as a flag of truce, Shelby and the Mexican Colonel stopped 
the firing and upon taking an inventory, found that sixteen 
Mexican soldiers had been killed, the American loss being three. 

At a conference which followed the battle, the Mexican 
Colonel stated that he had given orders that anyone caught 
stealing the horses of the Americans should be shot. Shelby laco- 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 147 

nically remarked that such an order from the Mexican officers 
was unnecessary as he already had given the same instructions 
to his men, and that he believed that such instructions had 
undoubtedly stimulated the encounter which had just occurred. 
Shelby afterwards offered his services to the Imperialist Chief 
who, piqued because of the sale of the arms to the Liberals, 
refused to accept same, stating that he had received orders not 
to enlist Americans. Notwithstanding, Shelby with his army 
of about 1,000, proceeded to Mexico City where, after several 
minor engagements with bandits, he arrived about two weeks 
later. From Mexico City the men marched to Cordoba, where 
they disbanded and joined the Confederate Colony which had 
been organized by Early, Magruder, Governor Harris, and others 
in the State of Vera Cruz. 



On December 10, 1866, the U. S. Man-of-war, Susquehanna, 
arrived and anchored off of Brazos de Santiago. She brought 
Minister L. D. Campbell, Gen. W. T. Sherman, and Mr. Plumb, 
the latter the Secretary of Legation. They visited Matamoros 
where they conferred with the French Commander relative to 
the withdrawal of all French troops from the Republic of 
Mexico in conformity with the expressed request of the Wash- 
ington Administration. Two days later they sailed to Vera 
Cruz where they conferred with Marshal Bazaine on the subject. 



Shortly after Gen. Phil Sheridan had visited the Border in 
1865, one of his trusted scouts, Capt. Harry Young, who had 
served with him throughout the Civil War, followed his old 
leader in the expectancy of new activities along the border. 
Young negotiated with General Carvajal, an Imperialist who 
had been named as Governor of Tamaulipas. Young engaged to 
go to New Orleans where, he believed, he might enlist to 
accompany him, 100 of the veterans of the Southern and Northern 
armies, then disbanded. Several months later Young returned 



148 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

with 80 veterans, men who lived for adventure alone. But, 
during the interim, Carvajal had taken refuge in Brownsville 
and had been compelled to leave his money behind him in 
Matamoros. Young and his men hung around Brownsville for 
about a week, and then started overland up the Rio Grande 
on the Texas side, destined to San Ygnacio, expecting to cross 
the Rio Grande there and to be in time to engage in some of the 
anticipated battles. Being short of fands and being half- 
starved, they appropriated several head of cattle for food and a 
number of horses for locomotion. The Mexican ranch owners 
on the Texas side, accompanied by several Americans, followed 
Young's party to San Ygnacio and near there fired upon them, 
killing several and wounding a number. Young was killed as 
he endeavored to swim the river. He had promised Sheridan 
that he would not fire on American soil and he faithfully kept 
his word. Eighteen of the party were captured and on Decem- 
ber 2, 1866, were sentenced at Brownsville to a year's con- 
finement in the state penitentiary. Those who escaped into 
Mexico, assisted the Imperialists at the battle of Santa Gertrudis. 



Until the completion of the St. L. B. & M. Ry. into Browns- 
ville during June, 1904, a regular stage route was at first main- 
tained between Brownsville and Corpus Christi and later between 
Brownsville and Collins and Alice, stations on the Texas- 
Mexican Railway between Corpus Christi and Laredo. The old 
road departed from the City of Brownsville just east of the 
graveyard ; thence proceeded along the present highway to a 
point just east of Olmito; thence to the northeast within a mile 
from Palo Alto monument and through what is now known as 
the FRESNOS COLONY, ten miles north from Brownsville; 
from there due north to the Arroyo Colorado ; thence through 
Rancho El Sauz to a point about ten miles west of the La Parra 
ranch called Santa Rosa; thence to Paso de la Piedra and Paso 
Ancho over Los Olmos Creek, through Santa Gertrudis (King's 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 149 

Ranch) to Collins or Alice as stated. This road had been main- 
tained by the Spaniards as a road to Goliad and San Antonio, 
Texas, for more than 150 years. After the sinking of the Con- 
federate Alabama, Raphael Semmes, its intrepid commander, 
passed over this road going north from Matamoros, Mexico, 
where he had landed in his efforts to keep within neutral or 
Confederate territory. 



Naval Actions off the Rio Grande and Brazos de Santiago: 

About six real engagements in which firing took place, 
occurred off the mouth of the Rio Grande and Brazos, and as 
these were of no great importance, this will serve as the only 
reference thereto. The only incident out of the ordinary being 
that of the capture of Acting Master Charles T. Chase, com- 
manding U. S. Gunboat Antona. 

On July 24, 1863, the Antona anchored off the mouth of the 
Rio Grande and immediately thereafter Acting Master Chase, 
in citizen's clothes went ashore at Bagdad, ostensibly to forward 
a letter to the U. S. Consul at Matamoros. Late in the after- 
noon he took a Mexican boat called the Margaritd to return to 
the Antona. In beating out of the river she had to follow the 
channel which carried her close to the Texas shore. While 
close, she was hailed by a party of eight or ten men on the 
Texas side who commanded the boatman to come to them or they 
would fire. As the boat touched the Texas shore Mr. Chase 
was taken out and sent to Brownsville. Acting Master S. V. 
Bennis, the next in command, cruised about until the next day 
and then, after satisfying himself of the truth of the report 
of the capture of Chase, proceeded to Galveston. In the report 
made by Chase on August 13, 1863, he says that upon being 
presented to General Bee the next morning, the General offered 
to liberate him under parole, which parole, he, Chase, refused to 
accept. 




MIFFLIN KENEDY 

CAPT. MIFFLIN KENEDY was born in Downington, Chester County, 
Pa., on June 8, 1818, and died at his ranch, La Parra, Cameron County, 
Texas, on March 14, 1895. His ancestors immigrated from Ireland. 
In 1835, young Kenedy shipped before the mast on the ship Star of 
Philadelphia, on a voyage to Calcutta. In 1846, Capt. Kenedy proceeded 
to New Orleans and enlisted for the war with Mexico. He afterwards 
transported Gen. Taylor and his staff and part of his troops from Matamoros 
to Camarga, Mexico. 

Capt. Kenedy and Capt. Richard King, during 1850 organized a steamboat 
company under the name of M. Kenedy & Co., and between 1850 and 1865 
purchased and used on the Rio Grande 26 boats. In 1876 Kenedy, 
King, and Uriah Lott built the Corpus Christi, San Diego, and Rio Grande 
narrow gauge railroad from Corpus to Laredo, 163 miles. Afterwards 
Captain Kenedy assisted to organize the San Antonia and Aransas Pass 
Railway. Captain Kenedy supplied the money and credit for the con- 
struction of the first seven hundred miles. Captain Kenedy was married 
on April 16, 1852, to Mrs. Petra Vela de Vidal of Mier, Mexico. They 
had six children of whom two survive, John G. Kenedy, owner and head 
of the Kenedy Pasture Company, and Mrs. Sarah Spohn of Corpus. 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 151 

After further discussion, however, General Bee liberated 
him unconditionally and even offered to return him to the moutii 
of the river. Chase declined this offer and returned by way of 
Matamoros. 



Hereinbefore reference has been made to the CORTINA 
RAID which occurred in 1859, and to the fact that Major Heint- 
zelman, U. S. Army, Tobin's Rangers, and Brownsville citizens 
drove him, Cortina, from his stronghold near Brownsville. As 
a Recuerdo the names of the civilians are here now given, as 
follows: 

Company A, Brownsville Citizens, for service under Major 
Heintzelman, U. S. Army. 

Mifflin Kenedy, Captain, R. B. Kingsbury, Dan O'Boyle, Wm. 
Stalworth, Ruben Norris, Antonio Espinosa, Pedro Reyes, Wm. 
Smith, Joe L. Putegnat, John F. Clark, E. Jeff Kenedy, Robert L. 
Dalzell, F. T. Post, Peter Sharkey, Alexander Werbiski, O. S. 
Seaver, John Flynn, Wm. Stone, Luke Bust, Henry Ligon, 
Wm. Nelson, T. Johnson, Franklin Cummings, George Ward, 
George Thompson, Francis J. Parker, G. T. Waugh, John Graham, 
Idelfonso Martinez, Israel B. Bigelow, Captain Kerr, Gun Can- 
non, L. A. Neale, Wm. Kepple, Robert Shears, Richard Swenck, 
Mortimer N. Stevens, John McGloin, H. Manschalk. James 
George, Lieutenant Langdon, G. T. Johnson, G. Dillard, H. 
Leget, Joe Hernandez, Howard, Sawyer, Johnson, Stevens, Joe 
Richards, P. Griffin, Samuel P. Gelston, Jeff Barthelow, Henry 
Webb, Matthew Kivlen, Hartshorn, Ed Dougherty, J. B. Gray, 
Nicholas Chano. 

These civilians were the first to pursue Cortlna's band after 
his invasion of Brownsville in 1859. With a small cannon 
presented to them by Gen. Pedro Hinojosa, they-followed Cortina 
nine miles. There the Civilian Company was ambushed. They 
brought the cannon to the rescue. It exploded. According to 



IS^ A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

the statement of the Captain, while it took about a day to make 
the nine miles in pursuit, it took about half an hour to make 
the same distance on the retreat. 
The Monroe Doctrine, 1823: 

(From an official communication directed to the Emperor of 
Russia by James Monroe, President of the United States of 
America.) 

At the proposal of the Russian Imperial Government, made 
through the minister of the Emperor residing here, a full power 
and instructions have been transmitted to the Minister of the 
United States at St. Petersburgh, to arrange, by amicable negotia- 
tion, the respective rights and interests of the two nations on 
the northwest coast of this continent. A similar proposal had 
been made by his Imperial Majesty to the government of Great 
Britain, which has likewise been acceded to. The government 
of the United States has been desirous, by this friendly proceed- 
ing, of manifesting the great value which they have invariably 
attached to the friendship of the Emperor, and their solicitude 
to cultivate the best understanding with his government. In the 
discussions to which this interest has given rise, and in the 
arrangements by which they may terminate, the occasion has been 
judged proper for asserting, as a principle in which the rights 
and interests of the United States are involved that the American 
continents, by the free and independent condition which they 
have assumed and maintain, are henceforth not to be considered 
as subjects for future colonization by any European powers. 



It was stated at the commencement of the last session, that 
a great efifort was then making in Spain and Portugal, to improve 
the condition of the people of those countries, and that it appeared 
to be conducted with extraordinary moderation. It need scarcely 
be remarked, that the result has been, so far, very different from 
what was then anticipated. Of events in that quarter of the 
globe, with which we have so much intercourse, and from which 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 1 53 

we derive our origin, we have always been anxious and interested 
spectators. The citizens of the United States cherish sentiments 
the most friendly, in favor of the liberty and happiness of their 
fellow-men on that side of the Atlantic. In the wars of the 
European powers, in matters relating to themselves, we have 
never taken any part, nor does it comport with our policy so to 
do. It is only when our rights are invaded, or seriously 
menaced, that we resent injuries, or make preparations for our 
defence. With the movements in this hemisphere, we are, of 
necessity, more immediately connected, and by causes which 
must be obvious to all enlightened and impartial observers. The 
political system of the allied powers is essentially different, in 
this respect, from that of America. This difference proceeds 
from that which exists in their respective governments. And to 
the defence of our own, which has been achieved by the loss of 
so much blood and treasure, and matured by the wisdom of 
their most enlightened citizens, and under which we have enjoyed 
unexampled felicity, this whole nation is devoted. We owe it, 
therefore, to candor, and to the amicable relations existing 
between the United States and those powers, to declare, that we 
should consider any attempt on their part to extend their system 
to any portion of this hemisphere, as dangerous to our peace and 
'Safety. With the existing colonies or dependencies of any Europ- 
ean power, we have not interfered, and shall not interfere. But 
with the governments who have declared their independence, and 
maintained it, and whose independehce we have, on great con- 
sideration, and on just principles, acknowledged, we could not 
view any interposition for the purpose of- oppressing them or 
controlling, in any other manner, their destiny, by any European 
power, in any other light than as the manifestation of an 
unfriendly disposition towards the United States. In the war 
between those new governments and Spain, we declared our 
neutrality at the time of their recognition, and to this we have 
adhered, and shall continue to adhere, provided no change shall 




\ 



RICHARD KING 

CAPT. RICHARD KING was born July 10, 1825, in Orange County, 
New York, and died April 14, 1885 at the Menger Hotel, San Antonio, 
Texas. After serving in the steamboat service in various capacities, having 
begun as a cabin boy, and after having participated in the Seminole War 
in Florida on one of the U. S. vessels, he came to the mouth of the Rio 
Grande in June, 1846, and took command of the Colonel Cross. He was 
associated with Capt. Kenedy until 1868 when he moved to the ranch, 
Santa Gertrudis, Nueces County, Texas. His widow and children have 
maintained the ranch since and it is one of the largest in the world. 

On December 10, 1854, Capt. King was married to Henrietta Chamber- 
Iain, daughter of Rev. Hiram Chamberlain, a Presbyterian Minister who 
organized Protestant Mission work in Mexico. Upon his death there 
survived him, his wife and three daughters, of whom Alice, married Robert 
J. Kleberg, who ever since has remained at the head of the King estate, 
which consists of about 1,000,000 acres, about 100,000 graded cattle, and 
many horses and mule stock. Richard King, a son of Richard King, Sr., 
is a ranchman and stock raiser near Santa Gertrudis. 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 155 

occur, which, in the judgment" of the competent authorities of 
this government, shall make a corresponding change, on the 
part of the United States, indispensable to their security. 



Military Movements Along Lower Rio Grande Valley : 

After February, 191 3, when the Texas State Militia was first 
sent to the Lower Valley, and at which time Capt. Kirby Walker 
and Capt. Robert C. Foy arrived with companies of the 14th and 
3rd Cavalry, the entire Valley at no time has been without army 
protection. 

In the early part of 1914 Major Sedgewick Rice of the 3rd 
Cavalry commanded. Col. Guy Carleton relieved him. Then 
Col. A. P. Blocksom arrived and took charge about August, 1914. 
Colonel Blocksom was in command of the Valley forces during 
the worst days and was compelled to face trying problems during 
the bandit raids. Upon the arrival of the 26th Infantry, Colonel 
Blocksom's command was reduced to Fort Brown, while Colonel 
Bullard took charge of all west of Harlingen. The 28th, with 
Colonel Plummer commanding, took charge of the territory west 
of Mercedes. 

The Coast Artillery, 91st, 128th, 164th, and 171st under com- 
mand of Major Kephart, arrived during May, 1914, and remained 
until January, 1915. 

The Dallas Field Artillery, Capt. Fred M. Logan, arrived 
during May, 1914, and remained about two weeks. 

The 1st Texas Infantry arrived during May, 1914, and 
remained about two weeks. 

The 28th U. S. Infantry, 26th U. S. Infantry, 4th U. S. 
Infantry, arrived between August i and September 15, 1915. 

The I2th Cavalry arrived in the Valley on Maj'' 14, 1914, and 
left about a year later. 

The 6th U. S. Cavalry, Col. Joseph A. Gaston, arrived on 
August 14, 1915, and departed on April 20, 1916. 



156 ^ Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

The Field Artillery batteries arrived in the Valley on August 
16, 1915- 

Dallas Field Artillery, Capt. Fred M. Logan, arrived in the 
Valley June 22, 1916, and immediately went to Ringgold Barracks 
where it now is. 

The 2nd and 3rd Texas Infantry arrived in the Valley on 
May 9, 1916, and remained at Harlingen and Donna until Septem- 
ber 7, 1916, when they moved to Corpus Christi where they now 
are. 

First Illinois Cavalry, unmounted, arrived on July 4, 1916. 
Departed October 16, 1916. 

Aeroplanes and Aviation Corps visited the Valley during 1914 
and 1915. 

Wireless Station erected in Fort Brown during September, 

1914.. 

Radio at Point Isabel erected in May, 1916. 

After the President's call for the mobilizaton of the State 
Militia and General Funston ordered parts to the Border, troops 
began to pour into the Valley. So, at this writing, November i, 
1916, at least 50,000 men are on duty between. Ringgold Barracks 
and Brownsville. 

The Brownsville District was created during June, 1916, and 
placed under command of Gen. James Parker. Its present roster 
is as follows : 

BROWNSVILLE DISTRICT 
Headquarters, Brownsville, Texas 



Limits from the Gulf of Mexico to Arroyo del Tigre, inclu- 
sive — 2y2 miles. 

Brigadier General James A. Parker, U. S. Army, Commanding. 



Pi£RSONAL Staff 
Capt. Cortlandt Parker, F. A., Acting Aid-de-Camp. 
First Lieut. Paul C. Raborg, Cavalry, Aid-de-Camp. 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 157 

District Staff 
Chief of Staff, Captain Frank R. McCoy, 3rd Cav. 
Dist. Adjutant, Lieut. Col. F. D. Evans, Adjut. Gen. 
Dist. Quartermaster, Capt. Alfred, Aloe, Q. M. C. 
Dist. Surgeon, Lieut. Col. T. J. Kirkpatrick, M. C. 
Dist. Engineer, Lieut. Col. R. P. Howell, C. of E. 
Dist. Signal Officer, Maj. Frank Hopkins, 8th F. A. 
Officer in Charge Militia Affairs, Maj. L. F. Kilbourne, Inf. 



Assistants to District Staff 

Capt. A. L. Conger, 26th Inf., Assistant to the Dist. Adjutant. 

Capt. Aristides Moreno, 28th Inf., Asst. to the Dist. Adjutant. 

Capt. F. W. Glover, 6th Cav., in charge of Motor Truck 
Transportation. 

Capt. Sherrard Coleman, Q. M. C, in charge of Brownsville 
Bakery District. 

Capt. J. De C. Hall, 4th Inf., Asst. to the Officer in charge ol 
Militia Affairs. 



Quartermaster Depot 
Capt. Lorenzo D. Gasser, Q. M. C, in charge of Depot. 

On duty in Depot: 

Capt. Thomas VV. Hollyday ; Capt. Edward H. Andres ; Capt . 

Louis G. Brinton; Capt. Mark Ireland; Capt. Clyde B. Crusai'. 

4th Inf.; and ist Lt. O. H. Saunders, Inf. 

On duty' at Harlingen : 

Capt. 'Charles J. Nelson, Q. M. C 



Thirteenth Provisional Division 
Headquarters : Llano Grande, Texas. 
Cornmander : Brigadier General E. M. Lewis. 

Personal Staff 
Aid-de-Camp : Second Lieutenant Lew Wallace, Jr. 



158 ^ Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

Division Staff 
Chief of Staff: Major W. C Babcock. 
Asst. Chief of Staff: Major Glenn Van Auken. 
Division Adjutant: Capt. George K. Wilson, 26 Inf. 
Division Quartermaster: Capt. L. D. Cabell, Q. M. C. 
Asst. Div. Q. M. : Capt. F. P. Jackson, Q. M. C. 
Asst. Div. Q. M. : Capt. William E. Carleton, Q. M. C. 
Asst. Div. Q. M. : Capt. Harold Sorenson, Q. M. C, N. Dak. 
Ordnance Officer: Major Feodor E. Krembs, Ord. Dept., Minn. 
Sanitary Inspector: Lieut. Col. Robert B. Grubbs, M. C. 
Asst. Sanitary Inspector: Major Louis Brechemin, Jr., M. C. 
Asst. Sanitary Inspector: Major David S. Fairchild, Iowa 
N. G. 



First Provisional Brigade 
Headquarters : Brownsville, Texas. 
Commander: Colonel Everard E. Hatch, 4th Inf. 

Personal Staff 
Aid-de-Camp: Lt*. Albert E. Brown. 

Brigade Staff 
Brigade Adjutant: Major John F. Preston, 4th Inf. 



Iowa Brigade 
Headquarters: Brownsville, Texas. 
Commander : Brigadier General Hubert A. Allen. 

Personal Staff 
Aid-de-Camp: First Lieutenant Park A. Findley, 3rd Iowa. 

Brigade Staff 
Brigade Adjutant: Major Ivan Elwood. 



Indiana Brigade 
Headquarters : Llano Grande, Texas. 
Commander: Brigadier General E. M. Lewis. 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 159 

Personal Staff 
Aid-de-Camp : Second Lieutenant Lew Wallace, Jr. 

Brigade Staff 
Brigade Adjutant: Maj. Wm. P. Carpenter. 

Attached 
Major L. M. Nutman, 4th, Inf., Acting Brigade Adjutant and 
Senior Inspector-Instructor. 



Minnesota Brigade 
Headquarters : Llano Grande, Texas. 
Commander : Brigadier General Frederick Emil Resche. 

Personal Staff 
Aid-de-Camp : First Lieutenant A. E. Wheaton. 

Brigade Staff 
Brigade Adjutant: Major Arthur Magnus Nelson. 



North Dakota-Nebraska Brigade 
Headquarters : Llano Grande, Texas. 
Commander : Colonel Augustus P. Blockson, 3rd Cav. 

Brigade Staff 
Brigade Adjutant: Capt. William A. Kent, 4th Inf. 



Louisiana-Oklahoma-South Dakota Brigade 

Headquarters : San Benito, Texas. 

Commander : Colonel Robert I. Bullard, 26th Inf. ♦ 
Attached 

Capt. Wm. S. Shields, M. C. Sanitary Inspector. 

Lieut. Col. Campbell B. Hodges, Capt. Inf. U. S. A., Inspector- 
Instructor, 1st La. Inf. 

First Lieut. George A. Matile, 26th Inf., Inspector-Instructor, 
ist Okla. Inf. 

First Lieut. William G. Langwill, 36th Inf., Inspector-Instruc- 
tor. 1st So. Dak. Inf. 



l6o A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

Texas Brigade 
Headquarters : Corpus Christi, Texas. 
Commander: Brigadier General John A. Hulen. 

Personal Staff 
Aid-de-Camp : Lieut. Dexter R. Mapel. 

Brigade Staff 
Brigade Adjutant: Major Herbert E. Stevenson; Major 
Joseph W. Speight, I. S. A. P. 



Troops Serving in the Brownsville District 

Engineer: Regimental • Headquarters, Headquarters, First 
Battalion, Companies A, B, and detachment of Company F, First 
Regiment U. S. Engineers; i company Iowa; i company Okla- 
homa. 

Signal Corps Companies: Company D, U. S. Signal Corps; 
Company A, Nebraska Signal Corps. 

Field Hospital Companies: U. S. No. 5; Texas; First Indi- 
ana ; First Iowa ; Louisiana ; First Nebraska ; and First Okla- 
homa Field Hospital. 

Ambulance Companies: U. S. Ambulance Company No. 5; 
First and Second Indiana; First Iowa. 

Cavalry: Third U. S. Cavalry; Troops A, B, and C, Colorado; 
I squadron Iowa; Troop A, Kansas; Tro^ops A and B, First 
Oklahoma ; i squadron Virginia. Troop A, New Hampshire. 

Field Artillery: Battery D, 4th U. S. ; Battery D, 5th U. S. ; 
Battery F, 5th U. S. ; Battery A, Texas; Batteries A, C, and 
D, Indiana ; First Battalion, Iowa ; First Battalion, Louisiana ; 
First Battalion, Minnesota. 

Infantry: 4th U. S. ; 26th U. S. ; 28th U. S. ; 36th U. S. ; 
Second Texas; Third Texas; First Indiana; Second Indiana; 
Third Indiana ; First Iowa ; Second Iowa ; Third Iowa ; First 
Minnesota; Second Minnesota; Third Minnesota; Fourth 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley i6i 

Nebraska; Fifth Nebraska; First North Dakota; First Okla- 
homa ; Fourth South Dakota ; First Virginia ; Second Virginia ; 
First Louisiana. 

Field Bakery Companies: U. S. Bakery Company No. i ; 
U. S. Bakery Company No. lo. 

Truck Companies: U. S. Truck Companies Nos. 3, 58, 15, 25. 
29, 35. 

Pack Trains: U. S. Pack Trains Nos. 17, 18, 20, 25, 8. 



Base Hospital- No. 3 
Headquarters : Brownsville, Texas. 
Commander: Major Elmer A. Dean. 

Officers Attached 
Capt. Norman T. Kirk. 
Capt Sanford French. 
Capt. Edward M. Welles. 
First Lieut. David W. Overton. 
First Lieut. Paul H. Zinkhan. 
First Lieut. Malone Duggan, M. R. C. 
First Lieut. Henry C. Bradford, M. R. C. 
Capt. Neal N. Wood. 
First Lieut. Clarence Ketcham, M. R., C. 
First Lieut. H. R. Carstens, M. R. C 
First Lieut. Claren E. Pfeifer. 
First Lieut. John H. Nesbitt. 
Capt. Charles F. Morris, M. C. 

Militia Officers Attached 
Capt. Thomas A. Burcham, Iowa F. H. 
Capt. Donald Macrae, Iowa F. H. 



Texas Field Hospital 
Major John L. O'Reilly; ist Lt. Victor E. Bonelli; ist Lt. 
Robert Hasskarl. 



i62 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

Louisiana Field Hospital 
Major Oliver L. Pothier ; ist Lt. Alvin B. Gross; ist Lt. 
Henry T. Nicelle; ist Lt. James L Peters; ist Lt. Covington N. 
Sharp; ist Lt. William Love, D. S., R. S. 

Iowa Field Hospital 
Major Thomas F. Duhigg; Capt. Donald C. Macrae, D. S., 
C. H.; Capt. Thomas A, Burcham, D. S., C. H. ; Capt. Edgar 
Earwood; 1st Lt. James C. Macrae; ist Lt. James N. Fettis. 

Iowa Ambulance Company 
Capt. Frank J. Murphy; ist Lt. Roy W. Smith; ist Lt. Fred- 
erick H. Roost; 1st Lt. Walph M. Waters; ist Lt. Carl E. Bosley. 

FOURTH U. S. INFANTRY 
October 31, 1916 

Colonels: Hatch, Everard E., commanding; Davidson, Lorenzo 
P., attached; Finley, John P., attached. 

Lieutenant-Colonel: Wolf, P. A., attached. 

Majors: French, Charles G. ; Preston, John F. ; Niittman. 
Louis M. 

Chaplain: Chenoweth, John F. 

Captains: Howell, Willey ; Merry, William T. ; Kent, William 
A.; Noyes, Samuel W., Acting C. O., First Battalion; Butler, 
Lawrence P., Regimental Adjutant; Sharon, George B., Regi- 
mental Supply Officer; Murphy, Ernest V.; Hall, J. DeCamp ; 
Elliott, Clark R., Acting C. O., Third Battalion; Crusan, Clyde 
B. ; Herr, Charles F. ; Mills, Willis E., Acting C. O., Second Bat- 
talion ; Cowan, John K., C. O. Co. "K" ; Scott, John (assigned 
to Signal Corps); Hardman, Albert, C. O. Co. "I"; Moore, 
Charles B. ; Robinson, William F., C. O. Co. "B"; Harris, 
William W. 

First Lieutenants: Selbie, William E., C O. Co. "M," J. A., 
G. C. M. ; Taylor, Edward G., Adjutant ist Battalion ; Muncas- 
ter, John H. ; Griffith, Charles T., Adjutant 2nd Bn. ; Wilhelm, 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 163 

Glenn P., C. O., M. G. Co.; Brown, Albert E. ; Lawes, Her- 
bert J., Adjutant 3rd Bn., C. O. M. C. Detachment; Cole, James 
P., Act. Adjt., 3rd Bn., attached; Smyth, Roy M., C. O. Co. "C"; 
Waltz, Floyd R., C. O. Co. "G," Act. Adjt. 2nd Bn., attached;, 
Harrison, Roger B., C. O. Co. "E"; McNair, Philip K., C. O. Co. 
"A" ; Duckstad, John B. ; Coffin, William E., Jr., C. O. Co. "H" ; 
Goodman, John F. 

TEXAS NATIONAL GUARD 
The Brigade 
Brigade Commander: Brig. Gen. John A. Hulen, Houston. 
Aid-de-Camp : ist Lt. C. C. Wren, Houston. 
Aid-de-Camp : ist Lt. Dexter R. Mapel, El Paso. 
Brigade Adjutant: Major H. E. Stevenson, El Paso. 
Inspector Rifle Practice: Major Jos. W. Speight, Waco. 

Second Infantry 

Col. Benj. F. Delameter, Commanding, Caldwell. 

Lieut. Col. A. W. Bloor, Austin. 

Major W. E. Jackson, Hillsboro. 

Major O. E. Roberts, Taylor. 

Major Preston A. Weatherred, Waco. 

Captain J. W. Hawkins, Adjutant, Austin. 

Captain Lon C. Smoot, Quartermaster, Dallas. 

Captain J. H. Zachry, Commissary, Uvalde. 

Captain Peter Schramm, Asst. I. S. A. P., Taylor. 

First Lieut. C. M. Easley, Battalion Adjutant, Waco. 

First Lieut. Adolph Geue, Battalion Adjutant, Austin. 

First Lieut. David R. Nelson, Battalion Adjutant, Lytle. 

Second Lieut. O. L. Baker, Battalion Q. M. & Com., Newton. 

Second Lieut. Chas. Edward Cade, Battalion Q. M. & Com., 
Caldwell. 

Second Lieut. Ralph B. Fairchild, Bn. Q. M. & Com., San 
Antonio. 

First Lieut. A. A. Wagnon, Chaplain, Houston. 



164 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

N oncommissioned Officers 
Wm. D. Wear, Reg. Sgt. Maj., Hillsboro. 
J. F. Toberman, Reg. Qr. Mr. Sgt., San Antonio. 
P. J. Webb, Reg. Com. Sgt., Hillsboro. 
Wm. C. Lafield, Reg. Color Sgt., Brownwood. 
Thos. D. Gambrell, Reg. Color Sgt., Lockhart. 
Rudolph H. Tausch, Bn. Sgt. Maj., Austin. 
Knox B. Mc Williams, Bn. Sgt. Maj., Hillsboro. 
Daniel J. Hallan, Bn. Sgt. Maj., Taylor. 

Co. A (San Antonio), Captain Claude L. Drennon ; ist Lieut. 
Earl G. Miller ; 2nd Lieut. Sidney Schraeder. 

Co. B (Dallas), Captain Geo. A. Robinson; ist Lieut. Ira 
D. Hough; 2nd Lieut. Forrest L. Towery. 

Co. C (San Antonio), Captain A. S. Horton ; ist Lieut. J. D. 
Harris ; 2nd Lieut. Van B. Harris. 

Co. D (San Antonio), Captain Charles Kuhlman ; ist Lieut. 
Dudley K. Lansing; 2nd Lieut. Edwin H. McManus. 

Co. E (Austin), Captain E. G. Hutchings; 1st Lieut. Roger 
Hilsman ; 2nd Lieut. Grover C. Combs. 

Co. F (Austin), Captain Wallis J. Moore; ist Lieut. W. S. 
Birge; 2nd Lieut. H. P. N. Gammell, Jr. 

Co. G (Waco), Captain W. C. Torrence ; ist Lieut. James M. 
Kendrick; 2nd Lieut. A. B. Lattimore. 

Co. H (Taylor), Captain W. H. Overstreet ; ist Lieut. Geo 
A. Frisch; 2nd Lieut. Graham D. Luhn. 

Co. I (Laredo), Captain E. M. Matson ; ist Lieut. A. P>. 
Muller; 2nd Lieut. Walter C. Nye. 

Co. K (Waco), Captain Benjamin F. Wright; ist Lieut. Oscar 
F. Washam ; 2nd Lieut. Walter C. Rogers. 

Co. L (Brenham), Captain Eugene A. Eversberg; ist Lieut. 
Edward S. Becker ; 2nd Lieut. Legette Tarver. 

Co. M (Hillsboro), Captain W. L. Culberson; ist Lieut. Cyrus 
P. Robinson ; 2nd Lieut. Carey S. Blanchard. 

Band, 2nd Inf. (Brenham), Chief Musician F. J. Navratil. 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 165 

Third Infantry 

Col. George P. Rains, Commanding, Marshal. 

Lieut. Col. J. S. Hoover, Houston. 

Major Holman Taj^lor, Fort Worth. 

Major J. D. Jennings, Timpson. 

Major A. R. Sholars, Orange. 

Captain H. W. Kinnard, Adjutant, Dallas. 

Captain Henry D. Hockwald, Quartermaster, Marshal. 

Captain Edwin R. York, Commissary, Gatesville. 

Captain C. G. Duff, Asst. I. S. A. P., Hillsboro. 

First Lieut. Archie Gates, Battalion Adjutant, Dallas. 

First Lieut C. C. Wren, Battalion Adjutant, Houston. 

First Lieut. E. B. Clements, Battalion Adjutant, Timpson. 

Second Lieut. Gordon R. Bell, Battalion Q. M. & Com., 
Marshal. 

Second Lieut. Albert E. Devine, Jr., Bn. Q. M. & Com., 
Houston. 

Second Lieut. Kenneth C. Perry, Bn. Q. M. & Com., San 
Antonio. 

First Lieut. John J. Campbell, Chaplain, Wichita Falls. 

Noncommissioned Staff Officers 

L'. A. Whittier, Reg. Sgt. Major, Dallas. 

Kenneth K. Bullock, Reg. Q. M. Sgt., Corsicana. 

Earl W. Ellis, Reg. Com. Sgt., Greenville. 

R. B. Cozart, Reg. Color Sgt., Lufkin. 

Alexander P. Macdonald, Reg. Color Sgt., Marshall. 

Martin D. Hipp, Bn. Sgt. Major, Houston. 

Frank S. Clarkson, Bn. Sgt. Major, Beaumont. 

Co. A (Houston), Captain Dallas J. Matthews; ist Lieut. 
C. W. Sears; 2nd Lieut. E. T. Davis. 

Co. B (Timpson), Captain R. R. Morrison; ist Lieut. J. S. 
Taylor; 2nd Lieut. B. L. Brown. 

Co. C (Corpus Christi)-, Captain J. L. King; ist Lieut. H. H. 
Craig; 2nd Lieut. R. G. Starner. 



i66 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

Co. D (Marshall), Captain W. E. Lake; ist Lieut. Alvin 
Morgan; 2nd Lieut. R. S. Dilworth, Jr. 

Co. E (Teague), Captain H. B. Siebe ; ist Lieut. R. M 
Wagstaff; 2nd Lieut. Herbert L. Isaminger. 

Co. F (Marin), Captain R. A. Jameson; ist Lieut. Robin 
W. Hunnicutt ; 2nd Lieut. J. F. Dewberry. 

Co. G (Bay City), Captain R. R. Lewis; ist Lieut. Vance C. 
Porter; 2nd Lieut. John C. Willis. 

Co. H. (Athens), Captain Tim J. Powers; ist Lieut. Barnett 

B. Yantis ; 2nd Lieut. Geo. R. Bringhurst, Jr. 

Co. I (Port Arthur), Captain Wilton L. Rutan ; ist Lieut 
Harold B. Elmendorf ; 2nd Lieut. Thomas M. Boyd. 

Co, K (Orange), Captain Joe Goodman; ist Lieut. Douglas 
W. Stakes ; 2nd Lieut. Vernon Lounsberry. 

Co. L (Port Arthur), Captain Geo. C. Fairbairn ; ist Lieut. 
Merle E. Davis ; 2nd Lieut. Grover F. Stock. 

Co. M (Beaumont), Captain W. O. Breedlove ; ist Lieut. 
Lucian D. Bogan ; 2nd Lieut. Walter S. Lockwood. 

ROSTER INDIANA INFANTRY BRIGADE 
Brigadier-General — E. M. Lewis 
Second Lieutenant, Lew Wallace, Jr., Aid-de-Camp 
First Indiana Infantry 
Colonel: Leslie R. Naftzger. * 

Lieutenant-Colonel: John J. Toffey. 
Majors: Benjamin E. Wimer, Chester P. Barnett, Joseph 

C. Clark. 

Captains: Basil Middleton, Wm. P. Carpenter, Charles B. 
Calvert, Frank E. Livengood, Raymond P. Chambers, Foster C. 
Shirley, Paul F. Stutzman, Ray McAdams, Jay A. Umpleby, 
George R. Hill, Fred. W. Baker, Thomas R. White, Loudon A. 
Harriman, Wm. S. Huddleston, Walter R. Meyers. 

First Lieutenants: Francis W. Barlet, Orion Norcross, and 
Louis J. Koster, Battalion Adjutants. Manford G. Henley. 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 167 

Ralph K. Perry, Clyde G. Chaney, Fred B. Johnson, Marion O. 
Reiff, Earl Howard, Thomas P. Riley, Walter Goodrich, Orville 
W. Nichols, Kenneth P. Williams, High T. St. John, John G. 
Capouch, Langehorn Motley. 

Second Lieutenants: Elwood Jenkins, Fred. M. Hickman, 
Joseph McCurdy, Wm. Kleifgen, Ernest K. Epperly, Guy 
McGahon, John W'. Leiby, Ernest D. Turner, Humphrey M. 
Barbour, Wm. Waters, J. R. Bostick, R. H. Hall. 

Medical Department: Major Frank W. Foxworthy, Captain 
N. A. Gary, Captain R. H. Richards, ist Lt. L. P. Collins. 

Second Indiana Infantry 

Colonel: Thomas B. Coulter. 

Lieutenant-Colonel: Emmett F. Branch. 

Majors: Clyde F. Dreisbach, Arthur J. Miller, Howard F. 
Noble. 

Chaplain: Elijah A. Arthur. 

Captains: Dwight M. Green, Neville A. Powell, Walter H. 
Kelly, Harvey E. Daines, Gorhardt A. Monninger, Edward F. 
Otto, Levi A. Beem, Emil F. Martin, Charles G. Davis, Paul 
N. Hanoonn, L. O. Slagle, Sid Cummings, Oscar B. Able, Merle 
A. Weisinger, Roderick S. Mumford. 

First Lieutenants: Albert Catlin, Ernest Clark, Emert 
Shields, Battalion Adjutants. Russell Bond, Wm. E. Livengood, 
Emil C. Carpenter, Cyrus W. Perkins, Ulysses G. Daly, Edgar 
A. Casey, Velmar Franz, George S. Green, Ivon Curtis, Ralph 
S. Tichener. 

Second Lieutenants: John D. Johnson, Claude Henderson, 
Hermon A. Collins, Robert E. Vaughn, Fonse Franklin, Archie 
O. Gilmore, Charles T. Johnson, John M, Hopkins. 

Medical Department: Major Earle S. Green, Captain George 
F. Holland, ist Lt. Edwin C. Kvte. 



i68 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

Third Indiana Infantry 

Colonel: A. L. Kuhlmann. 

Lieutenant-Colonel: George W. Freyermuth. 

Majors: Guy J. Shaughniss, George H, Healey, Gustave C. 
Groll. 

Chaplain: Fred. F. Thornburgh. 

Captains: Lester L. Boggs, Orvall B. Kilmer, John C. 
Lochner, George A. Foote, Jesse O. Covell, Arthur B. Gray, 
James O. Snyder, Otto E. Deal, Clinton D. Rogers, Ethan A. 
Fulton, James H. Canan, Alfred L. Moudy, Edward T. Heine- 
man, Herman Tuteur. 

First Lieutenants: Arthur T. Tuteur, Clarence E. Clark, 
Walter L. Clark, Battalion Adjutants. James R. Bird, Ralph W. 
Ewrey, John F. Cramer, Otto D. Dietl, Herschel W. Cook, 
Joseph O. Ellis, George B. Dennison, Ernest W. Thralls, Jerry 
B. Garland. 

Second Lieutenants: George W. Healey, Ray P. Harrison, 
Lewis F. Kosch, Floyd O. Tharp, John D. Pfeiffer, Frank E. 
Calvert, Charles M. Powers, Fred. F. Longfellow, Galeman 
Dexter, Wilbur C. Miser, Edward L. Watson. 

Medical Department: Major Frank B. Humphreys, Captain 
George W. Twomey, ist Lt. Burton A. Thompson, ist Lt. 
Leonard Ostroski. 

Absent — Capt. Carl F. Beyer, ist Lt. Louis B. Hershey, ist 
Lt. Llewellyn A. Turneck, 2nd Lt. Omar C. Bates, 2nd Lt. Hous- 
ton Merriam. 



ROSTER— IOWA BRIGADE OF INFANTRY 

Brigadier-General — Hubert A. Allen, Commanding 

First Lieutenant, Park A. Findley, 3rd Iowa, 'Aid-de-Camp 

Brigade Staff 

Major Ivan Elwood, Brigade Adjutant 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 169 

First Iowa Infantry 

Colonel: John E. Bartley. ^ 

Lieutenant-Colonel: George W. Ball. 

Majors: Elza C. Johnson, Harry G. Utley, John F. Ready. 

Captains: Edward A. Murphy, Herman E. Shipley, Herbert 
G. Higbee, Clyde L. Ellsworth, George Weilin, John F. Rau, 
Charles B. Robbins, Thomas A. Beardmore, Joseph W. WiHmek, 
Carleton Sias, William F. Grossman, Clyde H. Stephens, Earl 
Lee, Roy Hout, Frank L. LeBron, William C. Smith. 

First Lieutenants: Frederick S. Nichols, Roy A. Carnegie, 
Henry A. Woellhaf, Chester B. Myers, Battalion Adjutants. 
Charles R. Willey, Frank F. Grimm, Allen Lown, Walter A. 
Meyer, J. Clarence Grinde, Frank N. Meade, Fred L. Fisher, 
Frederick W. Miller, Guy Eaton, Leigh Bell, Edward Chase, 
Robert L. Fulton. 

Second Lieutenants: Albert G. Ketelson, Douglas U. Van 
Metre, Fred. E. Dickinson, Charles H. Leik, Charles O. Johnson, 
Harry P. Donovan, Robert L. Norton, Olaf H. Simonsen, Gus 
Julien, Thomas D. Wilson, Edward J. Hoffman, Harold M. 
Putnam, Harley L. Moore, Roy D. Erickson. 

Second Iowa Infantry 

Colonel: Norman P. Hyatt. 

Lieutenant-Colonel : Winfred H. Bailey. 

Majors: Sheppard B. Philpot, Frank J. Lund, John C. 
Bradbury. 

Chaplain: Major Ebenezer S. Johnson. 

Captains: Verne E. Hale, Charles G. Dunn, Harold J. Smith, 
Ory W. Garman, Albert C. Johnson, Arthur M. Martin, McKee 
J. Heffner, Henry G. Geiger, Robert H. Heath, Fred. R. Frost, 
Robert B, Pike, Walter L. Moore, Jacob G. Koenig, Gordon C. 
Holler, Forrest E. Collins. 

First Lieutenants: Conrad F. Helbig, Ralph J. Laird, Thomas 
E. Murphy, Battalion Adjutants. Philip C. Langenbach, Hanford 



170 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

MacNider, Edwin Lindsey, Charles J. Jennings, Harry W. Odle, 
Edward C. Starrett, Elmer R. Apple, James F. Barton, Gus. E. 
Lindberg, f^alph E. Patterson, John C. Peterson, Mark E. Bige- 
low, Lewis Totman. 

Second Lieutenants: Walter W. Johnson, George W. 
Shamice, Eugene S. Bondinot, John Mann, James R. Murphy, 
Nels L. Soderholm, Arthur C. Eihternach, Edward A. Swatosh, 
Theodore B. Munson, Hans Fredrickson, Ira L. Storm, Walter 

B. Thompson, William R. Rothaermel, Preston B. Waterbury, 
Ralph S. Geiger. 

Third Iowa Infantry 

Colonel: Ernest R. Bennett. 

Lieutenant-Colonel: Mathew A. Tinley. 

Majors: Emory C. Worthington, Claude M. Stanley, Guy S. 
Brewer. 

Chaplain: First Lt. Thomas S. Humphrey, 

Captains: Paul I. VanOrder, Edward O. Fleur, George R. 
Logan, Jr., Charles W. Aikins, William A. Graham, Arthur J. 
Horton, Ellis A. Pitley, Howard W. Ross, Charles J. Casey. 
Clarence E. Schamp, Claire B. Arnold, Rollin B. Humphrey, 
Benjamin J. Gibson, Clifford Powell, Lloyd D. Ross. 

First Lieutenants: Charles Tillotson, Jr., Roy B. Gault, 
Ralph B. Ericcson, Battalion Adjutants, Park A, Findley, Jack 
L. Meyer, James C. Ferguson, Harry B. Peavey, Merle W. 
McCunn, William A. Kelly, Frank B. Younkin, Jonathan D. 
Springer, Frank D. Logan, Walter H. Nead, Charles O. Briggs. 

Second Lieutenants: Roy Maxey, Clarence R. Green, Harry 

C. McHenry, Charles L. Heflen, George Bever, Jr., Roy H. 
Cleaveland, Howard D. Peckham, Oscar B. Nelson, George W. 
Hoar, William C. Rathke, Ralph W. Roland, Percy A. Lainson, 
John C. Christopher. 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 171 

ROSTER— MINNESOTA BRIGADE OF INFANTRY 

Brigadier-General — Fredrick Emil Resche 

First Minnesota Infantry 

Colonel: Erie D. Luce. 

Lieutenant-Colonel: Hugh H. McGee. 

Majors: Edson J. Andrews, Clifton T. Smith, Matt L. 
Higbee. 

Captains: Frank E. Reed, Arthur H. Conary, Perdy L. 
McClay, August E. Anderson, Thomas E. Parkhill, Harland E. 
Kelty, Allie A. Berg, Robert K. Alcott, Carl J. West, Guy A. 
Hopkins. 

First Lieutenants: Battalion Adjutant, Daniel Pettigrew, 
Carl A. Russell, Owen J. Trainor, Bernhardt M. Pederson, Nels 
E. Stadig, Frank B. Wittbecker, William Graupman, Charles 
S. Hendrickson, Edward H. Slater, Barndt A. Anderson. 

Second Lieutenants: Roy M. Robinson, Roland E. Gillesby. 
Joseph J. Goffard, Edward W. Budy, Silas M. Lewis, Albert 
M. Cassiday, Joseph M. Glasby. 

Medical Department : Major Ruben Pederson, Capt. Arnt. 
G. Anderson, ist Lieutenants Olaf I. Sohlberg, and Ralph J. 
Sewall. 

Second Minnesota Infantry 

Colonel: Wm. T. Mollison. 

Lieutenant-Colonel: Charles H. Danforth. 

Majors: Alfred Pfaender, Oliver J. Quane, Wm. F. Brandt, 
Ezra C. Clemans, Chaplain. 

Captains: Alfred J. Hill, M. J. Brown, Frank J. Hubbard, 
Baptiste Groebner, Wm. P. Townsend, Joseph L. Garmon, 
Henry W. Leudtke, John P. Markee, Peter Johnson, Jr., Arthur 
C. Scott, Harold S. Nelson, Francis Magner, Myron W. Hings- 
ley, Martin L. Larson. 

First Lieutenants: Herbert G. Hubbard, Lawrence H. 
Mealin, Herbert F. Leurs, Battalion Adjutants. John H. Gam- 



iy2 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

mell, Adolph Klause, James M. Tawney, Carl D. Hibbard, James 
H. Clark, Guy M. Borst, Fredrick E. Craegert, Herbert M. 
Hauck, Melvin S. Williamson, Alphonso Weisgerber, Wm. B. 
Clement, Otto Ronninger. 

Second Lieutenants: Clifford W. Pickle, Alfred Puhlman, 
Malcome C. Sims, Floyd Cunningham, Wm. R. Boyce, Henry I. 
Church, Burton F. Hood, Burton R. Cosgrove, John W. Lauter- 
bach. 

Medical Department: Maj. James E. Merrill, Capt. Adolph 
G. Liedloff, and ist Lieutenants Samuel Schaeffer and Eager M. 
Babcock. 

Third Minnesota Infantry 

Colonel: Hubert V. Eva. 

Lieutenant-Colonel: Albert F. Pratt. 

Majors: Arthur A. Caswell, Carl C. Weaver, Franklin W, 
Matson. 

Captains: Wm. S. Emery, Chaplain; Walter O. Fladin, Fred. 
C. Ormond, Thomas L. Chisholm, Elmer W. McDevitt, Earl P. 
Hyatt, Reginald C. Nelson, Chris Nessith, George W. Stiles, 
Robert C. Murray, Alfred H. Johnson, Anthon N. Nelson, Wm. 
Woelk, Chester S. Wilson, Otto F. Ruebke, Dave O. Williams. 

First Lieutenants: Wm. A. Brown, Anthon C. Jenseen, 
Battalion Adjutants. Benjamin A. Hawkins, Harris A. Trux, 
Edward B. Cutter, Roy K. Carpenter, Peter R. Foscum, John 
Harrison, Milo C. Cooper, Claude S. Morton, Alfred R. Ross- 
berg, Thomas Stanek, Harvey M. Johnson, Gustave A. Korht. 

Second Lieutenants: Harry Babcock, Lawrence W. LaPlant, 
Earl E. Marse, Alfred C. Ott, Louis Larson, Albert W. Gasper, 
Olaf Lund, John W. Signer, Anthony J. Van Buskirk, Eugene C. 
Kalkman, Royal W. Warner, John A. McKinnon, Carl E. Soder- 
holm, Ulrich E. St. Julien. 

Medical Department: Maj. Clyde E. Prudden, and ist Lieu- 
tenants W. A. Schwartz, John A. Andres, F. W. S. Raiter, and 
Elmer J. Sundby. 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 173 

ROSTER— FOURTH NEBRASKA INFANTRY 

Colonel: George E. Eberly. 

Lieutenant-Colonel: Wm. E. Baehr. 

Majors: Tver S. Johnson, Henning F. Elsasser, Robt. G. 
Douglas. 

Captains: John F. Poucher, Wm. E. Kelso, E. T. Harris, 
C. W. Hamilton, Irvin V. Todd, Frank C Yates, Archer L. 
Burnham, Cris L. Anderson, H. B. Hobbs, C. J. A. Steele, 
I.ynn J. Butchart, George H. Holderman. 

First Lieutenants: Hans M. Anderson, Clarence A. Rush- 
land, Ralph R. Heald, Battalion Adjutants. Wallace E. Fellers, 
Thomas R. Kerscher, Leo J. Crosby, James H. Pile, Reed 
O'Hanlon, William N. Orris, Jesse G. Facs, Fred F. Sturdevant, 
Thom.as V. Hamilton, Wint E. Harper, Edwin E. Newbold. 

Second Lieutenants: George S. Hefner, Don E. Camerson, 
August W. W. Loerke, Edward L. Wilbur, Wm. F. Bruett, Ezra 
C. Mahaffey, Henry Otterpohl, Jesse G. Beard, Wilbur F. Jack- 
son, Frank G. Tracy. 

Medical Department: Maj. John M. Birkner, Capt. Herbert 
H. Smith, and ist Lieutenants G. W. Pugsley, and Russell H. 
Morse. 



ROSTER— FIFTH NEBRASKA INFANTRY 

Colonel: H. J. Paul. 

Lieutenant-Colonel: A. H. Hollingworth. 

Majors: C. E. McCormick, R. E. Sterricker, R. E. Crosson. 

Captains: Charles L. Burmester, J. D. Paul, H. C. Stein, 
M. E. Lum, J. M. Holmes, L. E. Jones, O. E. Davis, P. R. 
Halligan, F. E. Crawford, J. F. L. Hanlon, J. A. Lillie, A. A. 
Clements, J. R. Hogate, M. S. Moore. 

First Lieutenants: C. C. Vaughn, J. P. Madgett, Battalion 
Adjutants. C. E. Gardner, C. F. Miller, J. E. Dulin, H. A. 
Austin, C. H. Davis, M. L. Abbott, J. A. Allison, H. J. Kram_er, 
C. S. Watson, R. Ails, M. E. Kraxberger, E. Allan. 



174 ^ Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

Second Lieutenants: E. W. DeFratis, G. W. Sternberg, J. V. 
Bulger, A. W. Culver, D. G. Hull, I. W. Evans, C. B. Ranney. 

Medical Department: Maj. F. S. Nicholson, Capt. G. A. 
Harris, and ist Lieutenants R. B. Stratton and S. B. Hall. 



ROSTER— FIRST OKLAHOMA INFANTRY 

Colonel: Roy Hoffman. ■• 

Lieutenant-C olonel : Elta H. Jayne. 

Majors: John Alley, William A. Green, Willis Stephenson. 

Captains: Mark W. Tobin, Gus Hadwiger, A. L. Emery. 
L. T. Wyllis, H. B. Gillstrap, A. J. Niles, C. W. Richards. C. H. 
Johnson, J. L. DeGroot, W. S. Key, Walter Veach, J. r^. Berry, 
R. R. Jarboe, B. D. Locke, O. H. Lee. 

First Lieutenants: C, H. Barnes, Chaplain ; Samuel J. 
Foster, Milton H. Taulbee, Earl Patterson, Battalion Adju- 
tants. James McGreager, Earnest S. Reach, Arthur J. Matheney, 
Edward W. Lachmiller, Moses Belmardt, Carl Ual, Charles 
Bolaver, E. W. Whitney, Highland Mitchell, Carter C. Hanner, 
Harry A. Richards, Benjamin H. Hicks, Raymond S. McLain. 

Second Lieutenants: Emmett C. Choate, Jean C. Thompson, 
Paul M. Brewer, Ernest W. Merrifield, James A. Embiy, James 
B. Carroll, William F. Lively, Hobart L. Carle, George L. 
Templeton, Richard Harrison, Louis Paulin, Harry D. Hilde- 
brand, George A. Barnes, Carl Edmond, Arthur W. Root. 



ROSTER— FOURTH SOUTH DAKOTA INFANTRY 

Colonel: Boyd Wales. 

Lieutenant-Colonel: William A. Hazle. 

Majors: Edward A. Beckwith, James McNenny, Myron L. 
Shade. 

Captains: Lawrence H. Hedrick, Lockwood E. Smith, John 
H. Balmat, Jr., Otto B. Linstad, Eugene I. Foster, Clarence P. 
Evers, Charles F. Hackett, Edw. T. Enboe, Earl B. Rowley, Geo, 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 175 

W. Hurst, Walter L. Vercoe, Earle L. Lewis, Arthur W. Phelps, 
Perry Peters, Joseph Mills Hanson. 

First Lieutenants: Guy P. Squires, Chaplain; William W. 
Spain, Maurice A. Hockman, Charles H. Jones, BattaHon Adju- 
tants. Geo. C. Pilkington, William A. Grebing, Martin G. 
Sebiakin-Ross, Geo. F. Weber, Geo. E. Sperbeck, Verne C. 
Kennedy, George W. Shipton, Al. J. Mayers, Desire L. LaBreche, 
Walter G. Miser, Robt. T. Houlihan, Lester E. Kirkpatrick, 
Jesse F. McCoun. 

Second Lieutenants: Door M. Hushaw, James W. Spry, 
Leslie Jenson, Guy F. Barnes, Victor R. Woodruff, Arthur H. 
Rogers, Harold W. Roach, Harvey Coacher, Vincent L. Knewell, 
Robt. Tackaberry, James P. Murphy, Robt. H. Limberger, Max 
Stokes, Howard Warren. 

Attached : 

Medical Officers: Maj. W. S. Bentley, Capt. Jacob G. Chi- 
chester, and 1st Lieutenants Roy F. Sackett and Harry T. 
Kenney. 

ROSTER— FIRST LOUISL\NA INFANTRY 

Colonel: Frank P. Stubbs, Jr. 

Lieutenant-Colonel: Campbell B. Hedges. 

Majors: Louis E. Duvall, Louis F. Guerre, Brett W. Eddy. 

Captains: Wm. D. Shaffer, Wm. C. Flourney, Percy S. 
Prince, Herbert S. Ford, Friend C. Quereau, Morton M. Bilbo, 
Richard A. Young, Leslie A. Fitch, John H. Kendall, Paul O. 
LeBlanc, George C. Carruth, Stanley F. Davis, W. Work 
Cockrell, Walter B. Randall Beuford D. Vance. 

First Lieutenants: Gilmer J. Buskie, Chaplain; John B. 
Thornhill, Tom B. Martin, John B. Johnston, Battalion Adju- 
tants. John S. Harrison, WilHam L. Stone, Phillip S. Pugh, 
George C. Collier, Tabor E. Utley, Levi A. Himes, John Leslie 
Taylor, Millard M. Foust, Emmett L. Irwin, George H. Burnham, 
James O. Dolby, Lionel L. Meyer, Oliver C. Clark. 



iy6 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

Second Lieutenants: Kenneth C. Banfield, Cecil A. Beu- 
hauser, George B. Buchel, Leonard P. Palmer, M. M. Bernard, 
George W. Cline, Frank B. Mays, John G. Borg, Stephen G. 
Henry, Newton A. Sanders, Francis A. Woolfley, Joseph H. 
Redding, Allen V. Hundley. 



ROSTER— FIRST VIRGINIA INFANTRY 

Colonel: William J. Perry. 

Lieutenant-Colonel: Robert E. Craighill. 

Majors: John F. Bright, Thomas P. Peyton, Stanley W. 
Martin. 

Chaplain: Capt. Cleveland J. Hall. 

Captains: Samuel S. Pitcher, Headquarters Co.; George W. 
Hutchinson, William E. Tribbett, Harry A. Howell, William A. 
Stack, James R. Sheppard, Elmer L. Johnson, Jesse E. Moon, 
Alvah B. Cousins, Conrad Johnson, Richard F. Beirne, Heirome 
L. Opie, William V. Smiley, George M. Alexander, Howard W. 
Raines. 

First Lieutenants : Leroy E, Brown, Jr., Foster King, Albert 
S. Burnham, Battalion Adjutants. James E. Peters, Luther T. 
Matthews, James F. Dunn, John O. Shakelford, George M. Bell, 
Charles A. Rady, James D. McLean, Henry M. Somerville, 
Ewarts W. Opie, Elliott V. Peaco, Alfred D. Barksdale, Kirk- 
wood D, Scott, Daniel L. Porter. 

Second Lieutenants : Hugh C. Minton, Thomas B. McDowell, 
Albert B. Carter, Lester E. Dellinger, Charles Chapman, Beverly 
Wilkes, John A. Wells, James H. Phillips, Wyatt Carneal, Jr., 
Clinton F. Knight, Francis H. Hill, Charles P. Serrett, George 
B. Fretwell, Richard C. McGhee, George M. Gilkerson. 

Attached: Major Giles B. Cook, Capt. Harry F. White, 
Capt. Acalphar A. Marsteller, ist Lt. Alexander F. Robertson, 
Medical Corps. Capt. John Scott, 4th Infantry, Inspector- 
Instructor. 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 177 

ROSTER— SECOND VIRGINIA INFANTRY 

Colonel: Robert F. Leedy. 

Lieutenant-Colonel: Samuel A. Miller. 

Majors: George O. Leach, Benjamin Harrison, Edwin L. 
Slaughter. 

Chaplain: Capt. Benjamin Dennis. 

Captains: Carson G. Mason, Headquarters Co., Joseph P. 
Ast, Charles L. Kindervater, Harry H. Hunt, James W. Green, 
Lew Wood, Samuel G. Waller, Charles E. Geohegan, Linwood 
G. Figgatt, Winston B. Davis, Joshua F. Bullitt, Robert Y. 
Conrad, Gunyon M. Harrison, James L. Bosang, James W. 
Wright. 

First Lieutenants: Samuel R. Miller, Wise Worrell, John 
R. Kerrick, Battalion Adjutants. Arthur A. Grove, John H. 
Cocks, Herbert H. May, Thomas E. Bartenstein, Harold R. 
Dinges, Bernard F. Roberts, Raymond E. Lightner, Calvin C. 
Crowder, William J. Painter, Fred. S. Anderson, Thomas N. 
Brent, James E. John, Eliot H. Howe. 

Second Lieutenants: James N, C. Richards, Ewart Johnson, 
Walter E. Morrison, Melvin T. Smith, Jonathan C. Gibson, 
William G. Bartenstein, William D. Leach, Goode D. Reynolds, 
Vernon H. Speese, Joseph W. G. Stephens, Garnett G. McFerron, 
Robert T. Barton, Jr., Alexander H. Stone, Charles T. Holtz- 
man, Jr., Will P. Nye. 

Attached: Major Adam T. Finch, ist Lt. James W. Knepp, 
1st Lt. Marshall Sinclair, Medical Corps; ist Lt. John McGuire. 
Capt. Harry H. Bissell, 36th Infantry, Inspector-Instructor. 



ROSTER— THIRD U. S. CAVALRY 
July 31, 191 6 
Colonel: Augustus P. Blocksom. 

Majors: Jesse McI. Carter, Francis H. Beach, John D. L. 
Hartman. 



lyS A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

Captains: James H. Reeves, Frank R. McCoy, Robert C. 
Foy, Frederick C. Johnson, Paul T. Hayne, Daniel Van Voorhis, 
Walter S. Grant, William S. Wells, William A. Austin, Philip 
Mowry, James D. Tilford, Frank L. Case, Philip, W. Corbusier, 
William R. Taylor. 

First Lieutenants: John H. Read, Jr., George Grunert, Henry 
W. Hall, John B. Johnson, Clarence C. Culver, Ralph N. Hayden, 
E. Kearsley Sterling, Oscar Foley, Leon R. Patridge, Troup 
Miller, Harold B. Johnson, John V. Spring, Jr. 

Second Lieutenants: Cuthbert P. Stearns, Frank L. Van 
Horn, Harold M. Rayner, Paul R. Davison, Willis D. Critten- 
berger, Arthur D. Newman, Edward L. N. Glass, John F. Davis, 
Alfred B. Johnson, George H. Peabody, Edward C. McGuire. 

Veterinarians: Frederick Foster, Olaf Schwarzkopf. 

[Note — During September and October, those whose names 
are designated, were advanced. John D. L. Hartman is now 
Colonel of the First Provisional Cavalry Regiment at Browns- 
ville. James H. Reeves is Major on detached service at Fort 
Sam Houston. John V. Spring, Jr., has been transferred to the 
1 2th.] 

FIRST PROVISIONAL CAVALRY REGIMENT 

Brownsville District, Brownsville, Texas 

Roster oe Officers 

Lieutenant-Colonel : J. D. L. Hartman, U. S. Cavalry, Com- 
manding 

Captain: John H. Read, Jr., 3rd Cavalry, Inspector-Instructor 

First Lieutenant: George H. Peabody, U. S. Cavalry, Asst. 

Inspector-Instructor 

First Squadron Virginia Cavalry 
Field and Staff 
Major Edgar W. Bowles. 
First Lt. and Adjt. James C. Earnest. 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley lyg 

Second Lt. Q. M. Lewis H. Gates. 

Second Lt. Asst. Vet. Patrick H. Hudgins. 

First Lt. Surgeon Walter N. Mercer. 

Capt. John A. Cutchins. 

First Lt. Bradley 7. Bossieiix. 

Second Lt. George L. Parsons. 

Capt. Marion S. Hewitt. 

First Lt. Charles P. Bigger. 

Second Lt. Sheppard Crump. 

Cai5t. Matthew F. James. 

First Lt. John A. Augustine. 

Second Lt. Herbert E. Featherstone. 

Capt. Raleigh W. Hicks. 

First Lt. James B. Puller. 

Second Lt. James J. Burke, Jr. 

Second Squadron Colorado Cavalry 

Field and Staff 

Major Harry D. Smith.' 

First Lt. and Adjt. Alpha M. Chase. 

Second Lt. Asst. Vet. J. D. Paxton. 

First Lt. Asst. Surg. Robert E. Talbot. 

Capt. Johrf Finch. 

First Lt. John G. Cook. 

Secofid Lt. Willis B. Lightbourn. 

Capt. Gerald S. Lawrence. 

First Lt. Harold D. Bartlett. 

Capt. Julian G. Dickinson. 

First Lt. James A. Force. 

Troop A, New Hampshire Cavalry 
Capt. Harry F. Smith. 
First Lt. John D. McQuillen. 
Second Lt. Daniel P. Mahoney. 



iSo A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

First Illinois Cavalry 

Colonel: Milton J. Foreman. 

Lieutenant-Colonel: Wallace H. Wigham. 

Majors: Charles A. Walz, Robert R. McCormick, Walter J. 
Fisher. 

Captains: Frank R. Schwengel, Walter A. Rosenfield, Albert 
E. McEvers, Joseph W. Mattes, John D. White, Leroy E. Nelson, 
John P. Snigg, Wyman Williams, Don M. Phelps, Thomas J. 
Simpson, William A. Peterson, Samuel T. S. Slawitsky, Edward 

D. Schottler, John A. Holabird, Harold P. Goodnow. 

First Lieutenants: Arthur C. Marriett and J. Leland Bass, 
Squadron Adjutants; Paul M. O'Donnell, George W. Faugsted, 
Wilbur J. Carmichael, Robert E. Myhrman, Herbert W. Styles, 
Gerard L. Fossland, William F. Wendell, Lanson H. Pratt, Leon 

E. Cutter, Frank O. Wood, Harry Hill, George M. Hepple, Wil- 
liam H. Young. 

Second Lieutenants: Jewett B. Matthews, William G. Rosier, 
Rollin C. Gere, Joseph W. Gastreich, Francis A. Gibson, Francis 
J. Ryan, Walter C. Wallace, Edwin H. Fiebig, Harold E. East- 
wood, Frank P. Stretton, Harold S. Fielder, Boyden R. Sparkes, 
Lloyd L Vrooman, Otto M. Frank. 

Veterinary Surgeons: George E. McEvers, and George T. 
Harz. 

(This Company departed from Valley October i6, 1916, for 
home.) 

Oklahoma Field Hospital No. i 
Major Floyd J. Boland, Capt. Lewis E. Inman, Capt. Rex 
G. Boland, ist Lt. Frank B. Sorgatz, ist Lt. Albert C. Hirsch- 
field, 1st Lt. Jesse M. Pemberton. 

United States Ambulance Co. No. 5 
Major Robert L. Carswell, M. C; ist Lt. Charles G. Hutter, 
M. C; ist Lt. Michael J. Sheehan, M. C. 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley i8i 

Field Hospital No. 5 
Major. P. L. Boyer, Capt. G. W. Cook, Capt. Jesse R. Harris. 

Company D, United States Signal Corps 
Major F. A. Hopkins. 

Battery D, 4TH United States Field Artillery 
Capt. E. S. Wheeler, ist Lt. J. M. Eager. 

Battery F, 5th United States Field Artillery 
Capt. J. R. Davis, 1st Lt. Carl Greenwald, ist Lt. Herbert 
S. Struble. 

Roster of 28th United States Infantry 
Ringgold Barracks, Rio Grande City, Texas 
May 31, 1916 
Colonel: Elmore F. Taggart. 
Lieutenant-C olonel : 

Majors: George H. Jameison, Walter S. McBroom. 
Captains: Moor N. Falls, Hilden OHn, Jesse M. Cullison, 
Robert D. Carter, William O. Smith, Francis H. Burr, Merrill 
E. Spalding, Joseph L. Topham, Hugh A. Parker, A. Moreno, 
Ned M. Greene, N. W. Hadull. 

First Lieutenants: Cary L Crockett, Samuel H. Houston, 
George E. Arnemann, Hamilton Templeton, Percy E. Van 
Nostrand, George L. Hardin, Willis J. Tack, Harrison Herman, 
Harlan L. Mumma, M. R. Wainer, Jere Baxter. 

Roster 26th United States Infantry 

Harlingen, Texas, May 31, 1916 
Colonel: Robert L. Bullard. 
Lieutenant-Colonel: Wilson Chase. 
Majors: Frank B. Watson, William W. Burnside. 
Captains: John W. French, Alfred C. Arnold, Goodwin 
Compton, Bruno T. Scher, Harry S. Adams, Garrison McCaskey, 



i82 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

Edward Croft, A. L. Conger, George K. Wilson, Bowers Davis, 
G. A. Matile, C. J. King, Jr. 

First Lieutenants: Emmert W. Savage, Douglas J. Page, 
James A. O'Brien, Robert K. Whitson, Joseph D. Patch, Walter 
R. Wheeler, Dabeney C. Rose, Agard H. Bailey, Harry J. 
Maloney. 

"TREATY OF GUADALUPE" 



Treaty of Peace, Friendship, Limits, and Settlement between 
the United States of America and the United Mexican States, 
concluded at Guadalupe Hidalgo, February 2, 1848; Ratification 
advised by Senate, with amendments, March 10, 1848 ; Ratified 
by President, March 16, 1848; Ratifications Exchanged at Que- 
retaro, May 30, 1848; Proclaimed, July 4, 1848. 

In the name of Almighty God : 

The United States of America and the United Mexican 
States, animated by a sincere desire to put an end to the calami- 
ties of the war which unhappily exists between the two Republics, 
and to establish upon a solid basis relations of peace and friend- 
ship, which shall confer reciprocal benefits upon the citizens of 
both, and assure the concord, harmony, and mutual confidence 
wherein the two people should live, as good neighbours, have 
for that purpose appointed their respective plenipotentiaries, 
that is to say: 

The President of the United States has appointed Nicholas 
P. Trist, a citizen of the United States, and the President of the 
Mexican Republic has appointed Don Luis Gonzaga Cuevas, Don 
Bernado Couto, and Don Miguel Atristain, citizens of the said 
Republic ; 

Who, after a reciprocal communication of their respective full 
powers, have, under the protection of Almighty God, the author 
of peace, arranged, agreed upon, and signed the following: 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 183 

Treaty of Peace, Friendship, Limits, and Settlement 

Between the United States of America and the 

Mexican Republic 

Article I 
There shall be firm and universal peace between the United 
States of America and the Alexican Republic, and between their 
respective countries, territories, cities, towns, and people, without 
exception of places or persons. 

Article II 
Immediately upon the signature of this treaty, a convention 
shall be entered into between a commissioner or commissioners 
appointed by the General-in-chief of the forces of the United 
States, and such as may be appointed by the Mexican Govern- 
ment, to the end that a provisional suspension of hostilities shall 
take place, and that in the places occupied by the said forces, 
constitutional order may be reestablished, as regards the political, 
administrative, and judicial branches, so far as this shall be 
permitted by the circumstances of military occupation. 

Article III 
Immediately upon the ratification of the present treaty by 
the Government of the United States, orders shall be transmitted 
to the commanders of their land and naval forces, requiring the 
latter (provided this treaty shall then have been ratified by the 
Government of the Mexican Republic, and the ratifications 
exchanged) immediately to desist from blockading any Mexican 
ports; and requiring the former (under the same condition) to 
commence, at the earliest moment practicable, withdrawing all 
troops of the United States then in the interior of the Mexican 
Republic, to points that shall be selected by common agreement, 
at a distance from the seaports not exceeding thirty leagues ; 
and such evacuation of the interior of the Republic shall be com- 
pleted with the least possible delay; the Mexican Government 



184 ^ Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

hereby binding itself to afford every facility in its power for 
rendering the same convenient to the troops, on their march 
and in their new positions, and for promoting a good under- 
standing between them and the inhabitants. In like manner 
orders shall be despatched to the persons in charge of the 
custom-houses at all ports occupied by the forces of the United 
States, requiring them (under the same condition) immediately 
to deliver possession of the same to the persons authorized by 
the Mexican Government to receive it, together with all bonds 
and evidences of debt for duties on importations and on expor- 
tations, not yet fallen due. Moreover, a faithful and exact 
account shall ,be made out, showing the entire amount of all 
duties on imports and on exports, collected at such custom- 
houses, or elsewhere in Mexico, by authority of the United 
States, from and after the day of ratification of this treaty by 
the Government of the Mexican Republic; and also an account 
of the cost of collection; and such entire amount, deducting 
only the cost of collection, shall be delivered to the Mexican 
Government, at the City of Mexico, within three months after 
the exchange of ratifications. 

The evacuation of the capital of the Mexican Republic by 
the troops of the United States, in virtue of the above stipulation, 
shall be completed in one month after the orders there stipulated 
for shall have been received by the commander of said troops, 
or sooner if possible. 

Article IV 
Immediately after the exchange of ratifications of the present 
treaty all castles, forts, territories, places, and possessions, which 
have been taken or occupied by the forces of the United States 
during the present war, within the limits of the Mexican Republic, 
as about to be established by the following article, shall be 
definitively restored to the said Republic, together with all the 
artillery, arms, apparatus of war, munitions, and other public 
property, which were in the said castles and forts when captured, 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 185 

and which shall remain there at the time when this treaty shall 
be duly ratified by the government of the Mexican Republic. To 
this end, immediately upon the signature of this treaty, orders 
shall be despatched to the xA.merican officers commanding such 
castles and forts, securing against the removal or destruction 
of any such artillery, arms, apparatus of war, munitions, or other 
public property. The City of Mexico, within the inner line of 
intrenchments surrounding the said city, is comprehended in the 
above stipulation, as regards the restoration of artillery, 
apparatus of war, etc. 

The final evacuation of the territory of the Mexican Repub- 
lic, by the forces of the United States, shall be completed in 
three months from the said exchange of ratifications, or sooner 
if possible; the Mexican Government hereby engaging, as in the 
foregoing article, to use all means in its 'power for facilitating 
such evacuation, and rendering it convenient to the troops, and 
for promoting a good understanding between them and the 
inhabitants. 

If, however, the ratification of this treaty by both parties 
should not take place in time to allow thft embarcation of the 
troops of the United States to be completed before the com- 
mencement of the sickly season, at the Mexican ports on the 
Gulf of Mexico, in such case a friendly arrangement shall be 
entered into between the General-in-chief of the said troops and 
the Mexican Government, whereby healthy and otherwise suit- 
able places, at a distance from the ports not exceeding thirty 
leagues, shall be designated for the residence of such troops as 
may not yet have embarked, until the return of the healthy 
season. And the space of time here referred to as comprehend- 
ing the sickly season shall be understood to extend from the firs' 
day of May to the first day of November. 

All prisoners of war taken on either side, on land or on sea, 
shall be restored as soon as practicable after the exchange of 
ratifications of this treaty. It is also agreed that if any Mexicans 



iS6 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

should now be held as captives by any savage tribe within the 
limits of the United States, as about to be established by the 
following article, the Government of said United States will 
exact the release of such captives, and cause them to be restored 
to their country. 

Article V 

The boundary line between the two Republics shall commence 
in the Gulf of Mexico, three leagues from land, opposite the 
mouth of the Rio Grande, otherwise called Rio Bravo del Norte, 
or opposite the mouth of its deepest branch, if it should have 
more than one branch emptying directly into the sea; from 
thence up the middle of that river, following the deepest channel, 
where it has more than one, to the point where it strikes the 
southern boundary of New Mexico; thence westwardly, along 
the whole southern boundary of New Mexico (which runs north 
of the town called Paso) to its western termination; thence 
northward, along the western line of New Mexico, until it inter- 
sects the first branch of the river Gila (or if it should not inter- 
sect any branch of that river, then to the point on the said line 
nearest tO' such branch, and thence in a direct line to the same) ; 
thence down the middle of the said branch and of the said river, 
until it empties into the Rio Colorado; thence across the Rio 
Colorado, following the division line between Upper and Lower 
California, to the Pacific Ocean. 

The southern and western limits of New Mexico, mentioned 
in this article, are those laid down in the map entitled "MAP 
OF THE UNITED MEXICAN STATES, AS ORGANIZED 
AND DEFINED BY VARIOUS ACTS OF THE CONGRESS 
OF SAID REPUBLIC, AND CONSTRUCTED ACCORDING 
TO THE BEST AUTHORITIES; REVISED EDITION; 
PUBLISHED AT NEW YORK, IN 1847, BY J. DISTUR- 
NELL" — of which map a copy is added to this treaty, bearing 
the signatures and seals of the undersigned Plenipotentiaries. 
And, in order to preclude all difficulty in tracing 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 187 

upon the ground the limit separating Upper from Lower Califor- 
nia, it is agreed that the said limit shall consist of a straight line 
drawn from the middle of the Rio Gila, where it unites with the 
Colorado, to a point on the coast of the Pacific Ocean, distant one 
marine league due south of the southernmost point of the port of 
San Diego, according to the plan of said port made in the year 
1782 by Don Juan Pantoja, second sailing master of the Spanisli 
fleet, and published at Madrid in the year 1802, in the atlas to 
the voyage of the schooners Siitil and Mexicana; of which plan 
a copy is hereunto added, signed, and sealed by the respective 
Plenipotentiaries. 

In order to designate the boundary line with due precision 
upon authoritative maps, and to establish upon the ground land- 
marks which shall show the limits of both republics, as described 
in the present article, the two Governments shall each appoint a 
commissioner and a surveyor, who, before the expiration of one 
year from the date of the exchange of ratifications of this 
treaty, shall meet at the port of San Diego, and proceed to run 
and mark the said boundary in its whole course to the mouth 
of the Rio Bravo del Norte. They shall keep journals and make 
plans of their operations: and the result agreed upon by them 
shall be deemed a part of this treaty, and shall have the same 
force as if it were inserted therein. The two governments will 
amicably agree regarding what may be necessary to these per- 
sons, and also as to their respective escorts, should such be 
necessary. 

The boundary line established by this article shall be religi- 
ously respected by each of the two republics, and no change 
shall ever be made therein, except by the express and free con- 
sent of both nations, lawfully given by the General Government 
of each, in conformity with its own constitution. 

Article VI 
The vessels and citizens of the United. States, shall, in all 
times have a free and uninterrupted passage by the Gulf of 



i88 ^ Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

California and by the river Colorado below its confluence with 
Gila, to and from their possessions situated north of the boundary 
line defined in the preceding article; It being understood that 
this passage is to be by navigating the Gulf of California and 
the river Colorado, and not by land, without the express consent 
of the Mexican Government. 

If, by the examinations which may be made, it should be 
ascertained to be practicable and advantageous to construct a 
road, canal, or railway, which should in whole or in part run 
upon the river Gila, or upon its right or its left bank, within 
the space of one marine league from either margin of the river, 
the Government of both Republics will form an agreement 
regarding its construction, in order that it may serve equally 
for the use and advantage of both countries. 

Article VII 

The river Gila, and the part of the Rio Bravo del Norte lying 
below the southern boundary of New* Mexico, being, agreeably 
to the fifth article, divided in the middle between the two repub- 
lics, the navigation of the Gila and of the Bravo below said 
boundary shall be free and common to the vessels and citizens 
of both countries; and neither shall, without the consent of the 
other, construct any work that may impede or interrupt, in whole 
or in part, the exercise of this right; not evtn for the purpose 
of favoring new methods of navigation. Nor shall any tax or 
contribution under any denomination or title, be levied upon 
vessels or persons navigating the same, or upon merchandise or 
effects transported thereon, except in the case of landing on one 
of their shores. If, for the purpose of making the said rivers 
navigable, or for maintaining them in such state, it should be 
necessary or advantageous to establish any tax or contribution, 
this shall not be done without the consent of both Governments. 

The stipulations contained in the present article shall not 
impair the territorial rights of either republic within its estab- 
lished limits. 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 189 

Article VIII 

Mexicans now established in territories previously belonging 
to Mexico, and which remain for the future within the Hmits 
of the United States, as defined by the present treaty, shall be 
free to continue where they now reside, or to remove at any 
time to the Mexican Republic, retaining the property which they 
possess in the said territories, or disposing thereof, and remov- 
ing the proceeds wherever they please, without their being sub- 
jected, on this account, to any contribution, tax, or charge 
whatever. 

Those who shall prefer to remain in the said territories may 
either retain the title and rights of Mexican citizens, or acquire 
those of citizens of the United States. But they shall be under 
the obligation to make their election within one year from the 
date of the exchange of ratifications of this treaty; and those 
who shall remain in the said territories after the expiration of 
that year, without having declared their intention to retain the 
character of Mexicans, shall be considered to have elected to 
become citizens of the United States. 

In the said territories, property of every kind, now belonging 
to Mexicans not established there, shall be Inviolably respected. 
The present owners, the heirs of these, and all Mexicans who 
may hereafter acquire said property by contract, shall enjoy with 
respect to it guarantees equally ample as if the same belonged 
to citizens of the United States. 

Article IX 

The Mexicans who, in the territories aforesaid, shall not 
preserve the character of citizens of the Mexican Republic, 
conformably with what is stipulated in the preceding article, 
shall be Incorporated Into the Union of the United States, and 
be admitted at the proper time (to be judged of by the Congress 
of the United States) to the enjoyment of all the rights of citi- 
zens of the United States, according to the principles of the 



190 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

Constitution; and in the meantime, shall be maintained and 

protected in the free enjoyment of their liberty and property, 

and secured in the free exercise of their religion without 
restriction. 



Article X (Stricken out.) 

Article XI 

Considering that a great part of the territories, which, by 
the present treaty, are to be comprehended for the future, 
within the limits of the United States, is now occupied by 
savage tribes, who will hereafter be under the exclusive control 
of the Government of the United States, and whose incursions 
within the territory of Mexico would be prejudicial in the 
extreme, it is solemnly agreed that all such incursions shall be 
forcibly restrained by the Government of the United States 
whensoever this may be necessary; and that when they cannot 
be prevented, they shall be punished by the said Government, 
and satisfaction for the same shall be exacted — all in the same 
way, and with equal diligence and energy, as if the same incur- 
sions were meditated or committed within its own territory, 
against its own citizens. 

It shall not be lawful, under any pretext whatever, for any 
inhabitant of the United States to purchase or acquire any 
Mexican or any foreigner residing in Mexico, who may have 
been captured by Indians inhabiting the territory of either of the 
two Republics ; nor to purchase or acquire horses, mules, cattle, 
or property of any kind, stolen within Mexican territory by 
such Indians. 

And in the event of any person or persons, captured within 
Mexican territory by Indians being carried into the territory of 
the United States, the Government of the latter engages and 
binds itself, in the most solemn manner, so soon as it shall know 
of such captive being within its territory, and shall be able so 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 191 

to do, through the faithful exercise of its influence and power, 
to rescue them and to return them to their country, or deliver 
them to the agent or representative of the Mexican Government. 
The Mexican authorities will, as far as practicable, give to the 
Government of the United States, notice of such captures; and 
its agents shall pay the expenses incurred in the maintenance 
and transmission of the rescued captives ; who, in the mean- 
time, shall be treated with the utmost hospitality by the American 
authorities at the place where they may be. But if the Govern- 
ment of the United States, before receiving such notice from 
Mexico, should obtain intelligence, through any other channel, 
of the existence of Mexican captives within its territory, it will 
proceed forthwith to effect their release and delivery to the 
Mexican agent, as above stipulated. 

For the purpose of giving to these stipulations the fullest 
possible efficacy, thereby affording the security and redress 
demanded by their true spirit and intent, the Government of the 
United States will now and hereafter, pass, without unnecessary 
delay, and always vigilantly enforce, such laws as the nature of 
the subject may require. And, finally, the sacredness of this 
obligation shall never be lost sight of by the said Government 
when providing for the removal of the Indians from any portion 
of the said territories, or for its being settled by citizens of the 
United States ; but on the contrary, special care shall then be 
taken not to place its Indian occupants under the necessity of 
seeking new homes, by committing those invasions which the 
United States have solemnly obliged themselves to restrain. 

Article XII 

In consideration of the extension acquired by the boundaries 
of the United States as defined in the fifth article of the present 
treaty, the Government of the United States engages to pay to 
that of the Mexican Republic the sum of fifteen millions of 
dollars. 



192 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

Immediately after this treaty shall have been duly ratified 
by the Government of the Mexican Republic, the sum of three 
millions of dollars shall be paid to the said Government by that 
of the United States at the City of Mexico, in the gold or silver 
coin of Mexico. The remaining twelve milHons of dollars shall 
be paid at the same place and in the same coin, in annual instal- 
ments of three millions of dollars each, together with interest 
on the same at the rate of six per centum per annum. This 
interest shall begin to run upon the whole sum of twelve millions 
from the day of the ratification of the present treaty by the 
Mexican Government, and the first of the instalments shall be 
paid at the expiration of one year from the same day. Together 
with each annual instalment as it falls due, the whole interest 
accruing on such instalment from the beginning shall also be 
paid. 

Article XIII 

The United States engage, moreover, to assume and pay- 
to the claimants, all of the amounts now due them and those 
hereafter to become due, by reason of the claims already liqui- 
dated and decided against the Mexican Republic, under the con- 
ventions between the two Republics severally, concluded on the 
eleventh day of April, eighteen hundred and thirty-nine and on 
the thirtieth day of January, eighteen hundred and forty-three; 
so that the Mexican Republic shall be absolutely exempt for the 
future, from all expense whatever on account of the said claims. 
Article XIV 

The United States do furthermore, discharge the Mexican 
Republic from all claims of citizens of the United States not 
heretofore decided against the Mexican Government, which may 
have arisen previously to the date of the signature of this treaty; 
which discharge shall be final and perpetual, whether the said 
claims be rejected or be allowed by the Board of Commissioners 
provided for in the following article, and whatever shall be the 
total amount of those allowed. 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 193 

Article XV 

The United States, exonerating Mexico from all demands 
on account of the claims of their citizens mentioned in the pre- 
ceding article, and considering them entirely and forever can- 
celed, whatever their amount may be, undertake to make satisfac- 
tion for the same to an amount not exceeding three and one-quar- 
ter millions of dollars. To ascertain the validity and amount of 
those claims, a Board of Commissioners shall be established by 
the Government of the United States, whose awards shall be 
final and conclusive ; provided that, in deciding upon the validity 
of each claim, the Board shall be guided and governed by the 
principles and rules of decisions prescribed by the first and fifth 
articles of the unratified convention concluded at the City of 
Mexico on the twentieth day of November, one thousand, eight 
hundred and forty-three ; and in no case shall an award be made 
in favor of any claim not embraced by these principles and rules. 

If, in the opinion of the said Board of Commfssioners, or 
of the claimants, any books, records, or documents in the posses- 
sion or power of the Government of the Mexican Republic, shall 
be deemed necessary to the just decision of any claim, the Com- 
missioners or the claimants through them, shall, within such 
period as Congress may designate, make an application in writing 
for the same, addressed to the Mexican Minister of foreign 
affairs, to be transmitted by the Secretary of State of the United 
States ; and the Mexican Government engages, at the earliest 
possible moment after the receipt of such demand, to cause any 
of the books, records, or documents specified, which shall be 
in their possession or power (or authenticated copies or extracts 
of the same) to be transmitted to the said Secretary of State, 
who shall immediately deliver them over to the said Board of 
Commissioners; provided that no such application shall be made 
by or at the instance of any claimant, until the facts which it is 
expected to prove b> such books, records, or documents, shall 
have been stated under oath or affirmation. 



194 ^ Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

Article XVI 
Each of the contracting parties reserves to itself the entire 
right to fortify whatever point within its territory it may judge 
proper so to fortify for its security. 

Article XVII 
The treaty of amity, commerce, and navigation concluded 
at the City of Mexico on the fifth day of April, A. D. 1831, 
between the United States of America and the United Mexican 
vStates, except the additional article, and except as far as the 
stipulations of the said treaty may be incompatible with any 
stipulation contained in the present treaty, is hereby revived for 
the peri'od of eight years from the day of the exchange of ratifi- 
cations of this treaty, with the same force and virtue as if incor- 
porated therein ; it being understood that each of the contracting 
parties reserves to itself the right, at any time after the said 
period of eight years shall have expired, to terminate the same 
by giving one year's notice of such intention to the other party. - 

Article XVIII 
All supplies whatever for troops of the United States in 
Mexico, arriving at ports in the occupation of such troops pre- 
vious to the final evacuation thereof, although subsequently to 
the restoration of the custom houses at such ports, shall be 
entirely exempt from duties and charges of any kind; the Gov- 
ernment of the United States hereby engaging and pledging it? 
faith, to establish and vigilantly to enforce all possible guards 
for securing the revenue of Mexico, by preventing the importa- 
tion under cover of this stipulation, of any articles other than 
such, both in kind and in quantity, as shall really be wanted for 
the use and consumption of the forces of the United States 
during the time they may remain in Mexico. To this end it shall 
be the duty of all officers and agents of the United States to 
denounce to the Mexican authorities at the respective ports any 
attempts at a fraudulent abuse of this stipulation, which they 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 195 

may know of, or may have reason to suspect, and to give to 
such authorities all the aid in their power with regard thereto; 
and every such attempt, when duly proved and established by sen- 
tence of a competent tribunal, shall be punished by the confisca- 
tion of the property so attempted to be fradulently introduced. 

Article XIX 

With respect to all merchandise, effects, and property what- 
soever, imported into ports of Mexico, whilst in the occupation 
of the forces of the United States, whether by citizens of either 
Republic or by citizens or subjects of any neutral nations, the 
following rules shall be observed: 

(i) All such merchandise, effects, and property, if imported 
previously to the restoration of the custom houses to the Mexi- 
can authorities as stipulated for in the third article of this treaty, 
shall be exempt from confiscation although the importation of 
the same be prohibited by the Mexican tariff. 

(2) The same perfect exemption shall be enjoyed by all such 
•merchandise, effects, and property, imported subsequently to the 
restoration of the custom houses, and previously to the sixty 
days fixed in the following article for the coming into force of 
the Mexican tariff at such ports, respectively; the said merchan- 
dise, effects, and property being, however, at the time of their 
importation, subject to the payment of duties, as provided for 
in the said following article. 

(3) All merchandise, effects, and property described in the 
two rules foregoing shall, during their continuance at the place 
of importation, and upon their leaving such place for the interior, 
be exempt from all duty, tax, or imposts of every kind, under 
whatsoever title or denomination. Nor shall they be there sub- 
jected to any charge whatsoever upon the sale thereof. 

(4) All merchandise, ett'ects, and property, described in the 
first and second rules, which shall have been removed to any 
place in the interior whilst such place was in the occupation of 
the forces of the United States, shall, during their continuance 



196 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley . 

therein, be exempt from all tax upon the sale or consumption 
thereof, and from every kind of impost or contribution under 
whatsoever title or denomination. 

(5) But if any merchandise, effects, or property described 
in the first and second rules, shall be removed to any place not 
occupied at the time by the forces of the United States, they 
shall, upon their introduction into such place, or upon their sale 
or consumption there, be subject to the same duties which, under 
the Mexican laws, they would be required to pay in such cases 
if they had been imported in time of peace, through the maritime 
custom houses, and had there paid the duties conformably with 
the Mexican tariff. 

(6) The owners of all merchandise, effects, or property, 
described in the first and second rules, and existing in any port 
of Mexico, shall have the right to reship the same, exempt from 
all tax, impost, or contribution whatever. 

With respect to the metals, or other property, exported from 
any Mexican port whilst in the occupation of the forces of the 
United States, and previously to the restoration of the custom 
house at such port, no person shall be required by the Mexican 
authorities, whether general or state, to pay any tax, duty, or 
contribution upon any such exportation or in any manner to 
account for the same to the said authorities. 
Article XX 

Through consideration for the interests of commerce gen- 
erally, it is agreed that if less than sixty days should elapse 
between the date of the signature of this treaty and the restora- 
tion of the custom houses, conformably with the stipulation in 
the third article, in such case all merchandise, effects, and prop- 
erty v.-hatsoever, arriving at the Mexican ports after the restora- 
tion of the said custom houses, and previously to the expiration 
of sixty days after the day of signature of this treaty, shall be 
admitted to entry; and no other duties shall be levied thereon, 
than the duties established bv the tariff found in force at such 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 197 

custom houses, at the time of the restoration of the same. And 
to all such merchandise, effects, and property, the rules estab- 
lished by the preceding article shall apply. 
Article XXI 

If unhappily any disagreement should hereafter arise between 
the governments of the two republics, whether with respect to 
the interpretation of any stipulation in this treaty, or with respect 
to any other particular concerning the political or commercial 
relations of the two nations, the said Governments, in the name 
of those nations, do promise to each other that they will endeavor, 
in the most sincere and earnest manner, to settle the differences 
so arising, and to preserve the state of peace and friendship in 
which the two countries are now placing themselves, using, for 
this end, mutual representations and pacific negotiations. And 
if, by these means, they should not be enabled to come to an 
agreement, a resort shall not, on this account, be had to repri- 
sals, aggression, or hostility of any kind, by the one republic 
against the other, until the Government of that which deems 
itself aggrieved shall have maturely considered, in the spirit of 
peace and good neighbourship, whether it would not be better 
that such difference should be settled by the arbitration of com- 
mir.sioners appointed on each side, or by that of a friendly nation. 
And should such course be proposed by either party, it shall be 
acceded to by the other, unless deemed by it altogether incom- 
patible with the nature of the difference, or the circumstances 
of the case. 

Article XXII 

If (which is not to be expected, and which God forbid) war 
should unhappily break out between the two Republics they do 
now, with a view to such calamity, solemnly pledge themselves 
to each other and to the world, to observe the following rules, 
absolutely, where the nature of the subject permits, and as 
closely as possible in all cases where such absolute observance 
shall be impossible: 



198 A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 

(i) The merchants of either Republic then residing in the 
other, shall be allowed to remain twelve months (for those 
dwelling in the interior), and six months (for those dwelling 
at the seaports), to collect their debts and settle their ajffairs ; 
during which periods they shall enjoy the same protection, and 
be on the same footing in all respects as the citizens or subjects 
of the most friendly nations ; and, at the expiration thereof, or 
at any time before, they shall have full liberty to depart, carrying 
oft all their effects without molestation or hindrance, conforming 
therein to the same laws which the citizens or subjects of the 
most friendly nations are required to conform to. Upon the 
entrance of the armies of either nation into the territories of the 
other, women and children, ecclesiastics, scholars of every 
faculty, cultivators of the earth, merchants, artisans, manufac- 
turers, and fisherman, unarmed and inhabiting unfortified towns, 
villages, or places, and in general all persons whose occupations 
are for the common subsistence and benefit of mankind, shall be 
allowed to continue their respective employments, unmolested 
in their persons. Nor shall their houses or goods be burnt or 
otherwise destroyed, nor their cattle taken, nor their fields 
wasted, by the armed force into whose power by the events of 
war, they may happen to fall; but if the necessity arise to take 
anything from them for the use of such armed force, the same 
shall be paid for at an equitable price. All churches, hospitals, 
schools, colleges, libraries, and other establishments for chari- 
table and beneficent purposes, shall be respected, and all persons 
connected with the same protected in the discharge of their 
duties and the pursuit of their vocations. 

(2) Tn order that the fate of prisoners of war may be 
alleviated, all such practices as those of sending them into dis- 
tant, inclement, or unwholesome districts, or crowding them into 
close and noxious places, shall be studiously avoided. They shall 
not be confined in dungeons, prison-ships, or prisons ; nor be 
put in irons, or bound, or otherwise restrained in the use of their 



A Brief History of the Lower Rio Grande Valley 199 

limbs. The officers shall enjoy liberty on their paroles, within 
convenient districts, and have comfortable quarters; and the 
common soldier shall be disposed in cantonments, open and 
extensive enough for air and exercise, and lodged in barracks as 
roomy and good as are provided by the party in whose power 
they are, for its own troops. But if any officer shall break his 
parole, by leaving the district so assigned him, or any other 
prisoner shall escape from the limits of his cantonment after 
they shall have been designated to him, such individual, officer 
or other prisoner, shall forfeit so much of the benefit of this 
article as provides for his liberty on parole or in cantonment. 
And if any officer, so breaking his parole, or any common soldier 
so escaping from the limits assigned him, shall afterwards be 
found in arms, previously to his being regularly exchanged, the 
person so offending shall be dealt with according to the estab- 
lished laws of war. The officers shall be daily furnished by the 
party in whose power they are, with as many rations and of the 
same articles as are allowed, either in kind or by commutation, 
to officers of equal rank in its own army ; and all others shall be 
daily furnished with such rations as are allowed to a common 
soldier in its own service; the value of all which supplies shall 
at the close of the war, or at periods to be agreed upon between 
the respective commanders, be paid by the other party on a 
mutual adjustment of accounts for the subsistence of prisoners; 
and such accounts shall not be mingled with or set off against 
any others, nor the balance due on them be withheld, as a com- 
pensation or reprisal for any cause whatever, real or pretended. 
Each party shall be allowed to keep a commissary of prisoners, 
appointed by itself, with every cantonment of prisoners in pos- 
session of the other; which commissary shall see the prisoners 
as often as he pleases ; shall be allowed to receive, exempt from 
all duties or taxes, and to distribute, whatever comforts may be 
sent to them by their friends; and shall be free to transmit his 
reports in open letters to the party by whom he is employed, 



200 A Brief History of the Lozvcr Rio Grande Valley 

And it is declared that neither the pretense that war dissolves 
all treaties, nor any other Avhatever, shall be considered as annul- 
ling or suspending the solemn covenants contained in this article. 
On the contrary, the state of war is precisely that for which it is 
provided ; and, during which, its stipulations are to be as sacredly 
observed as the most acknowledged obligations under the law of 
nature or nations. 

Article XXIII 
This treaty shall be ratified by the President of the United 
States of America, l)y and with the advice and consent of the 
Senate thereof; and by the President of the Mexican Republic, 
with the previous approbation of its general Congress ; and the 
ratifications shall be exchanged in the City of Washington, or at 
the seat of Government of Mexico, in four months from the date 
of the signature hereof, or sooner if practicable. 

In faith whereof, we, the respective Plenipotentiaries, have 
signed this treaty of peace, friendship, limits, and settlement, and 
have hereunto affixed our seals, respectively. 

Done in quintuplicate, at the City of Guadalupe Hidalgo, on 
the second day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand 
eight hundred and forty-eight. 

N. P. Trist, (L. S.) 

Luis P. Cuevas, (L. S.) 
Bernardo Couto, (L. S.) 
MiGL. Atristain. (L. S.) 



